Plants: Sales

(asked on 29th November 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with UK retailers on the sale of plants grown with neonicotinoid pesticides; and if he will issue guidance to retailers not to sell plants grown with those pesticides.


Answered by
George Eustice Portrait
George Eustice
This question was answered on 15th December 2017

The Government remains of the view that decisions on the use of pesticides should be based on a careful scientific assessment of the risks. Pesticides that carry unacceptable risks to pollinators should not be authorised.

Three neonicotinoids are currently subject to restrictions which normally prohibit their use on a number of crops. The UK has fully implemented these restrictions. We have also said that we support further restrictions on neonicotinoid pesticides based on an assessment of the evidence, including that they may have an impact on soils.

Currently, ornamental plants can be treated with neonicotinoids if the plant is grown in a greenhouse, is treated after flowering, or doesn’t flower until the year after treatment.

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