The European Court confirmed the definitive ban on three active substances dangerous to bees

The European Court in Luxembourg has confirmed the partial ban on three key active substances from the neonicotinoid group, which are hazardous to bee health. Five days ago, the Court dismissed the appeal of Bayer Group, which since 2018 has been attempting to overturn the decision to terminate the authorisations for the use of three active substances from the neonicotinoid group. The restrictions enter into force without the possibility of further appeal for the use of imidacloprid from Bayer CropScience, clothianidin from Takeda Chemical and Bayer CropScience, and thiamethoxam from Syngenta.

In the dispute over bee-harmful insecticides, the chemical company Bayer lost the case before the Court of Justice of the European Communities. The Court rejected the objections of the chemical giant and confirmed its 2018 decision, when three active substances dangerous to bees were partially banned – clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam.

Opinion on the issue of neonicotinoids – bees by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) from 2018

Bayer fought to keep its two main neonicotinoids, produced and marketed by the company – clothianidin and imidacloprid – on the market for a while longer, despite the fact that the European Commission had already restricted their sale in 2013, together with the third neonicotinoid, thiamethoxam, produced by Syngenta. The three active substances, contained in various insecticides, are used for the treatment of horticultural and cereal crops that are particularly attractive to bees. According to the Commission’s findings, however, these plant protection products pose a serious threat to bee health.

The Court of Justice of the EU confirmed this in May 2018. Bayer continued to appeal the decision before the next instance, while Syngenta accepted the imposed European law without objections.

"Bayer is disappointed that the main aspects of this case were not recognised by the Court," said a spokesperson for the pharmaceutical and chemical company in Leverkusen. The Group is convinced that the active substances can be used safely in accordance with the instructions for use.

The environmental and nature conservation organisation in Germany welcomed the decision from Luxembourg as a huge victory. "Neonicotinoids pose an extreme threat to bees and other insects and are partly responsible for their dramatic mortality," their statement said. „The protection of biodiversity is absolutely incompatible with Bayer’s requests to extend the authorisations for the specific active substances,“ the Environmental and Nature Conservation Organisation further stated in its report. Greenpeace also welcomed the Court’s decision.