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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2023 to Question 146873 on Neonicotinoids, what the result of the exercise conducted by Rothamsted Research on 1 March on predicted virus incidence was; and whether the threshold for the use of Cruiser SB has been met.

As per the conditions of the emergency authorisation granted in 2023, the seed treatment is only permitted for use if the predicted virus incidence level is 63% or above, as determined on 1 March 2023 by the Rothamsted YV forecast model. The forecast has been run and predicted a virus incidence of 67.51%. Sugar beet seed may therefore be treated with Cruiser SB and distributed to those growers who ordered it.