Waitz: the Commission and the member States must urgently prevent the necessary protection of Bees

Green in an open letter to Federal government: Austria must speak out for the strict examination of all pesticides

Brussels/Vienna (OTS) – „in Spite of the frightening reports on the insects die seem the EU-Commission and some member States badly needed to protect Bees and weaken delay. As a beekeeper and organic Farmer, that makes me stunned. Pesticides, such as the bee-toxic Neonicotinoids must be evaluated according to the strictest safety standards,“ said Thomas Waitz, MEP of the Greens.

In an open letter to the Federal government, the EU comment-members of the Greens, SPÖ, and the NEOS to mitigate their great concern about the efforts of the EU Commission, the bees, the EFSA guidance. This bee-harmful pesticides could remain in the market or re-approved, which threatens to amplify the insects die. The deputies request the government and in particular Minister Elisabeth Köstinger, to do everything to ensure that the EFSA bee guidance is effective in its original form.

The EFSA has adopted its bee guidelines in the year 2013. Although they are regarded as the most comprehensive scientific reference for the evaluation of the impact of pesticides on pollinators, they were not accepted by the governments of the member States in the Standing Committee on plants, animals, food and feed (PAFF Committee) formally. The EU Commission has proposed – probably due to pressure from some member States – the EU governments now, only a very small part of the EFSA bee guidance in the EU risk assessments of pesticides. Is it the intention of the EU Commission, the other parts of the guidelines, the EFSA should be revised. This would lead to important aspects, such as the chronic toxicity and risks to wild bees, would be ignored until the EFSA to submit a new guide. In addition, time limits should be repealed, to which the EU would have to all pesticides for potential risks to wild bees review.

Waitz: „if adopted, the proposal of the EU Commission, would be bees and wild insects over more years exposed to the effects of insects harmful pesticides. The Vorschläg would impede the application of the bee guidelines and the latest standards of safety for pesticides, instead of you. We can’t afford in view of the dramatic situation of the pollinating insects. Minister Köstinger must use immediately for effective protection of Bees.“

Link to the Open letter:
http://www.tomwaitz.eu/protestbrief-an-die-regierung-bienen-schuetzen-anstatt-vergiften/

DI in IRMI SALZER
Consultant for agricultural policy – MEP Thomas Waitz
The GREEN – GREENS/EFA
Wiedner main street 40/1. Garden Staircase/Top 14. 1040 Vienna, Austria . Austria
M +43 (699) 11 82 76 34 .