This story brought to you by The Farmers Guardian about the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) policy on pesticides that affect bee populations.
In a recent review into the effects of neonicotinoids, Defra has concluded there is currently no need to change the regulation of the pesticide, despite claims the chemical is linked to a collapse in the UK bee population.
The respective bodies concluded although they were ‘interesting’, the studies did not show that the current permitted levels of the pesticide would have serious implications for the health of bee populations.
The report went on to say existing field studies on neonicotinoids found there were not any significant difference between hives exposed to treated crops and hives exposed to untreated crops.
Defra is now carrying out their own research under field conditions and will continue to consider any changes to the regulation of neonicotoids.
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