The French Prime Minister has confirmed that a ban on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on French soil will go ahead from September 2018, after a tussle between farming and environmental branches of the government (more details here). Meanwhile, in the UK, the Shadow Environment Secretary, Sue Hayman, has written an open letter to the new Defra Secretary, Michel Gove, asking him to clarify the government's position on neonics.
The incidents came after a Conservative MEP failed to stop a complete EU ban on neonicotinoid pesticides. Noting that Mr Gove had previously stated that he would not seek to weaken European environmental regulations, Ms Hayman argued that the the Conservative party appeared to be attempting to 'frustrate' the process of banning neonicotinoids. Farming UK reported that if EU proposals are approved by a majority of EU member states, a complete ban could be in place this year. Read more here.
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