Oerdin
Deity
My understanding is neonicotinoids are the cause of most bee colony collapses in the US.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonicotinoid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonicotinoid
Yes. But. But. Corn is wind pollinated. As the crop matures there's really no forage available to a bee in a stand of corn. They're really not going to be in the area in significant numbers, are they?
Still, that's not to say there's no effect, of course.
My understanding is neonicotinoids are the cause of most bee colony collapses in the US.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonicotinoid
Is it a total ban?
No. Only three neonicotinoids will be suspended and only from flowering crops, on which bees feed. Neonicotinoids will still be used on winter crops, when bees are dormant, and in greenhouses.
What happens next?
The European commission will review new scientific evidence and data on the impact of the suspension within two years. The suspension will place further pressure on the use of neonicotinoids in other regions, such as in the US where a coalition of beekeepers, environmental groups and food campaigners is suing the federal Environmental Protection Agency for failing to protect pollinators.
My understanding is neonicotinoids are the cause of most bee colony collapses in the US.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonicotinoid
Bees & Pesticides: Commission goes ahead with plan to better protect bees
The European Commission will in the coming weeks adopt a proposal to restrict the use of 3 pesticides belonging to the nenicotinoid family (clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiametoxam) for a period of 2 years. An Appeal Committee vote on 29 April 2013 returned an inconclusive opinion where: 15 Member States supported the proposal, 4 abstained and 8 voted against. Since no qualified majority was reached, procedurally, the responsibility on deciding whether to adopt the proposal now lies with the Commission.
The Commission's action is a response to the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) scientific report which identified "high acute risks" for bees as regards exposure to dust in several crops such as maize, cereals and sunflower, to residue in pollen and nectar in crops like oilseed rape and sunflower and to guttation in maize.
Previously the proposal failed to reach qualified majority at the expert's meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 15 March.
In absence of an agreement between Member States, it is for the Commission to decide on the adoption of the proposed restriction.
Main elements of the Commission's proposal to Member States:
1-The proposal restricts the use of 3 neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiametoxam) for seed treatment, soil application (granules) and foliar treatment on bee attractive plants and cereals.
2-In addition, the remaining authorised uses are available only to professionals.
3-Exceptions will be limited to the possibility to treat bee-attractive crops in greenhouses, in open-air fields only after flowering.
4-The restrictions will apply from 1 December 2013.
5-As soon as new information is available, and at the latest within 2 years, the Commission will review the conditions of approval of the 3 neonicotinoids to take into account relevant scientific and technical developments
I don't know, because I haven't looked but I will, whether it's true but it seems to me the pesticides on sale to the average European gardener have become so tightly regulated over the last twenty years that only the most anodyne products are still on sale.
edit: apparently I'm wrong, (again ) they've only now been withdrawn from Garden Centres.
http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/wildlife-gardening/national-diy-chains-remove-bug-killer-containing-neonicotinoids-from-sale/72602.html
What'd be important is to see how the statistcs come up in the EU after the ban (assuming strict adherence).