The Government has set out plans to end the use of neonicotinoid pesticides – a pesticide that is known to be lethally toxic to butterflies, moths, bees and other vital pollinators.
Neonicotinoid pesticides have been banned in the UK since 2018 but the Government have authorized their use every year since 2021.
In their general election manifesto, Labour pledged to ban the use of these pesticides completely, and have now outlined the next steps to do so, which include identifying options for legislation to prevent the future use of the pesticides clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam entirely.
Butterfly Conservation declared a Butterfly Emergency earlier this year following the worst year on record for butterflies counted during its Big Butterfly Count, and called on the Government to ban the use of neonicotinoid pesticides immediately and without exception.
Butterfly Conservation’s open letter to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, was signed by 42,601 people, all calling for an end to neonic pesticides.
However, since then, British Sugar and NFU sugar have once again asked the Government for approval to use these harmful chemicals in 2025.
While Butterfly Conservation welcomes today’s announcement from the Government, it cautions that the work is not yet done.
Julie Williams, Chief Executive of Butterfly Conservation, said: “We thank the Minister for listening to the concerns of Butterfly Conservation’s members and supporters. However, the current process for assessing emergency authorisations is clearly not fit for purpose and poses an on-going risk to butterflies and moths until that legislation comes into force.”