About: bees
German action plan for insect protection: Farmers want greater say
With insects declining at an alarming rate, the German environment ministry wants an action plan to protect them before the end of the year. But farmers are feeling ignored in the process and are calling for more environmental protection incentives. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU Commission to crack down on recalcitrant member states over neonicotinoids
The European Commission will trigger a never-before-used option against two member states over the abuse of so-called "emergency authorisations" for neonicotinoids, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis said in a letter sent to NGOs dated 19 February and seen by EURACTIV.
New pesticide may harm bees as much as those to be replaced
A new class of pesticides positioned to replace neonicotinoids may be just as harmful to crop-pollinating bees, researchers cautioned Wednesday (15 August).
Plight of the bees hits unaware businesses
Declining numbers of bees, butterflies and midges could leave companies facing the prospect of reduced crop quality and a shortage of raw materials. A United Nations-backed study found that most businesses surveyed were unsure of what action to take.
Time to end the pesticide merry-go-round
On 22 March, EU member states are meeting again to discuss a full ban on the world’s most widely used pesticides, neonicotinoids. It’s a crucial chance to protect our pollinators, children and crops and rethink our whole food system, writes Dave Goulson.
Neonicotinoids threaten bees, EU food safety watchdog re-confirms
Neonicotinoid pesticides put at risk wild bees and honeybees, crucial for pollination and reproduction of many plants, according to new assessments published on 28 February by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
EU unanimously backs UN World Bee Day
The United Nations declared 20 May to become World Bee Day, adopting a resolution proposed by Slovenia and supported by all EU member states, which aims to raise awareness of the insects' importance and warn about their dwindling numbers.
Scientists urge action against insect decline
Scientists have come to Brussels to warn policymakers of the negative impact of pesticides on bees as the Commission prepares to propose a full ban on neonicotinoids.
Environmentalists call for pesticide ban as study shows extent of insect decline
Scientists have raised the alarm after a study 27 years in the making found the biomass of flying insects in nature protected areas has declined by more than 75% since 1990. The causes of the decline are not fully understood.
Justice for bees: French court to look at pesticide ban
An environmental organisation has filed a lawsuit to ban sulfoxaflor, a pesticide that has fallen through the cracks of the ban on neonicotinoids. EURACTIV France reports.
Study: Bee-harming pesticides in 75% of honey worldwide
Traces of pesticides that act as nerve agents on bees have been found in 75% of honey worldwide, raising concern about the survival of these crucial crop pollinators, researchers said yesterday (5 October).
Spanish honey production drops, as disappearing bees continue to sound alarm bells
Honey production in Spain dropped 4.08% last year, the country's agriculture ministry warned. A decline in bees, which pollinate between 5% and 8% of global food production, poses a serious threat the food chain. EURACTIV's partner EFEagro reports.
US journal Science publishes study linking neonicotinoids to bee deaths
Two of the most extensive field studies conducted to date in Europe and Canada have confirmed the hypothesis that neonicotinoid insecticides are harmful to bees and other pollinating species.
Ethiopia’s huge honey production potential in search of modern techniques
The beehives of Ethiopia, Africa's top honey producer, make about a quarter of the continent's honey, but travellers who come to sample the liquid gold often find there isn't enough to go around .
Europe poised for total ban on bee-harming pesticides
The world’s most widely used insecticides would be banned from all fields across Europe under draft regulations from the European Commission, seen by EURACTIV’s partner The Guardian.
Greenpeace: Neonicotinoids pose risks to multiple species
Neonicotinoid pesticides should be considered a serious threat not only to honeybees, but also to many other species, according to a scientific review published today (12 January) by Greenpeace.
Neonicotinoids face total EU ban
After the two-year moratorium on three types of neonicotinoid pesticides, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) this month issued an unfavourable opinion on two of the chemicals, for uses that are still authorised. EURACTIV's partner Journal de l'Environnement reports.
Pesticide manufacturers’ own tests reveal serious harm to honeybees
Unpublished field trials by pesticide manufacturers show their products cause serious harm to honeybees at high levels, leading to calls from senior scientists for the companies to end the secrecy which cloaks much of their research.
Major study links neonicotinoid pesticides to wild bee declines
Wild bees that forage from oilseed rape crops treated with insecticides known as neonicotinoids are more likely to undergo long-term population declines than bees that forage from other sources, according to the findings of an 18-year study.
France delays ban on neonicotinoids until 2018
Environmental groups fear that the biodiversity bill adopted last Wednesday (20 July) will be watered down under the next French government, particularly the ban on bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides, which has been put off until 2018. EURACTIV’s partner Journal de l’Environnement reports.
European Bee Week: What the EU should do for bees and biodiversity
While it has already taken some action, the EU still has a lot of work to do to protect bees and other pollinators and, thus, improve food security and preserve biodiversity, writes Daniel Penev.
Belgium and France are EU’s bee mortality hotspots
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published figures on the loss of bees in the EU. Belgium tops the list for winter mortality, and France for the beekeeping season. EURACTIV's partner Journal de l'Environnement reports.
Paris pushes EU to ban bee-killing pesticides
In a bid to spur the EU into action, the French ban on neonicotinoids could be set back several months and subject to a number of exceptions. EURACTIV France reports.