Sulfoxaflor: Commission restricts the use of harmful pesticide for pollinators

Delivering on its commitment to protect pollinators and build sustainable food systems, the Commission will adopt, in the coming weeks, legislation restricting the use of Sulfoxaflor, a pesticide which can have adverse impacts on wild bees, to indoor use only. Discussions with Member States over the past year on restricting the of use of Sulfoxaflor have not delivered sufficient support for the Commission's proposal to restrict its use. European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides said: “The protection of pollinators against harmful pesticides is of paramount importance, for the future of our planet and our children. Our commitments under the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Biodiversity Strategy are clear: harmful chemical pesticides will either be banned or see their use restricted. Today we are making good on this commitment. Scientific conclusions from EFSA show that outdoor use of Sulfoxaflor can be harmful for bumble bees and solitary bees. Action must be taken now to restrict its use to indoors only.” The Commission's proposal was first submitted in February to a Standing Committee but the necessary qualified majority was not reached. Therefore, the same proposal was submitted to the Appeal Committee, where, Member States failed again to reach the needed majority. The Regulation will now be adopted by the Commission this spring.