EFSA to Examine Emergency Use of Pesticides Neonicotinoids

On December 08, 2020, the European Food Safety Authority issued a notice to assess the use of neonicotinoids in sugar beets.

The scientific panel reviewed and highlighted the following information:

• The request from European Commission covers 21 emergency authorisations of clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and thiacloprid granted by Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
• European commission had previously banned the Outdoor use of imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin in May 2018 and an application to renew the approval of thiacloprid was rejected by the European Commission in January 2020.
• To examine the availability of alternative means to protect sugar beet crops. The assessments should be finalised in the second half of 2021.
• To review the methodology used for the evaluations in light of the European Commission’s Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies – particularly the targets to reduce pesticide use and the promotion of alternatives to pesticides.

The new methodology, which will support harmonisation of pesticide use in EU Member States, should be available by the end of 2022.