WRITTEN QUESTION E-2129/02

by Luciana Sbarbati (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 July 2002)

Subject: Honey, bees and systemic insecticides

An article entitled Dove sono finite le api (where have all the bees gone) which was published on the front page of the newspaper La Repubblica on Saturday, 29 June 2002 stated that French bee-keepers have asked the Commission to block the distribution of systemic insecticides, the active molecules of which are incorporated into plant seeds and spread as the plant grows: they therefore have a progressive effect (the more the plant grows, the greater the effect).

The molecule at issue, Imidacloprid, is produced by the Bayer pharmaceutical company and is lethal for bees, even in minute doses. This molecule is incorporated into wheat, maize, sunflower and other seeds. Insecticides containing the molecule first appeared on the Italian market ten year ago.

These insecticides are harming not just the bee population itself: honey production is apparently down by as much as one third, and honey prices are rising to compensate for the loss of production. There has been no response to the large number of complaints made by European bee-keepers, despite the steady deterioration in the situation as more and more bees are killed by the insecticide.

Given the above, can the Commission state whether:

- it is aware of the existence of the above molecule produced by Bayer and of the use being made of it in farming, with the effects referred to in La Repubblica;

- any studies have been conducted with a view to reassuring consumers about the possibility of traces of the molecule being found in honey and posing a threat to human health;

- it would agree that it should block the distribution of systemic insecticides, the active molecules in which are incorporated into plant seeds and spread as the plant grows, with particular reference those containing the molecule Imidacloprid, given that bees are of essential importance to farming and to society in that they pollinate almost all plants?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2002)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written P-1804/02 by Mr Souchet(1)

(1) OJ C 309 E, 12.12.2002, p. 163.