A Win for the Bees: EU Votes to Ban Bee-Harming Pesticides

In a historic vote on Monday, the European Union banned the use of bee-harming pesticides across the continent for a minimum of two years, garnering praise from environmental groups who have said that the population of the vital pollinators, along with the global food supply, are in grave danger due to the widespread use of the chemicals.

The vote is the first of its kind and suspends three of the world's most widely-used pesticides--known as neonicotinoids. However, critics have said the two-year suspension is not enough, meaning bees are not safe until the pesticides are banned permanently.

Though the vote did not reach the required majority under EU voting rules, the hung vote moves to the European Commission (EC) who will implement the ban. "It's done," an EC source told the Guardian.

The Pesticide Action Network reports:

Despite pesticide industry influence, a majority of countries voted to place a two year restriction on three neonicotinoid products linked to a wide-range of harms to honey bees: clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. The EU vote comes after significant findings by the European Food Safety Agency that these pesticides pose an unacceptable risk to bees and their use should be restricted. Along with habitat loss and pathogens, a growing body of science points to neonicotinoid pesticides as a key factor in drastically declining bee populations.

The Guardianreports:

The landmark suspension is a victory for millions of environment campaigners concerned about dramatic declines in bees who were backed by experts at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). But it is a serious defeat for the chemical companies who make billions a year from the products and also UK ministers - who voted against the ban. Both had argued the ban will harm food production.

Paul Towers, a spokesperson for PAN North America today urged the U.S. to follow suit and listen to growing scientific evidence, rather than voices from the pesticide industry:

European leaders followed the weight of the scientific evidence and moved swiftly to protect bees from the harms of neonicotinoid pesticides. U.S. officials, especially the Environmental Protection Agency, should be emboldened by European action rather than yielding to pressure from pesticide corporations. Unless U.S. officials act soon, bee populations may not recover, threatening the livelihood of beekeepers and the agricultural economies that rely on pollination and honey production.

However, the vote is only a temporary ban on the use of the pesticides, which, according to critics, does not go far enough to protect the survival of bees.

As Keith Tyrell, executive director of PAN-UK, stated:

Whilst we welcome the EU vote as a significant step forward, we are dismayed that it is only a temporary half measure which goes nowhere near far enough in protecting our bees and other vital pollinators from the harm of neonicotinoid pesticides.

Friends of the Earth's Head of Campaigns Andrew Pendleton said:

This decision is a significant victory for common sense and our beleaguered bee populations.

"Restricting the use of these pesticides could be an historic milestone on the road to recovery for these crucial pollinators.

"But pesticides are just one of the threats bees face - if David Cameron is genuinely concerned about declining bee numbers he must urgently introduce a Bee Action Plan.

The countries that voted against the ban were: the UK, Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Austria and Portugal. Ireland, Lithuania, Finland and Greece abstained.

Those in favor: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, France, Cyprus, Germany, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia and Sweden.

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