Syngenta to take a continent to court to upend pesticide ban
Dead bees? Who cares?
Syngenta is preparing to spray its lawyerly might all over Europe in a bid to be allowed to keep killing bees.
The agro-chemical giant announced Tuesday that it would haul the European Commission before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg in an effort to block the looming suspension of its neonic insecticide thiamethoxam — aka Cruiser.
The commission voted earlier this year in favor of a two-year ban on neonicotinoid pesticides, beginning in December, because scientists have found that they slaughter the bees that suckle at the stamen of treated plants.
Syngenta’s lawyers and executives claim that the company’s product does no such thing — even though killing insects is exactly what it’s designed to do. From an AFP report:
“The Commission took the decision on the basis of a flawed process, an inaccurate and incomplete assessment by the European Food Safety Authority and without the full support of EU Member States,” the company insisted. …
Syngenta said the EU suspension was causing deep concern among farmers, who once the two-year-ban takes effect in December will need to replace “an extremely effective, low dose product (with) much less sustainable alternatives.”
Sustainable, you say? Not many things could be more critical to a sustainable food supply than thriving pollinators.
John Upton is a science fan and green news boffin who tweets, posts articles to Facebook, and blogs about ecology. He welcomes reader questions, tips, and incoherent rants: johnupton@gmail.com.
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Syngenta to take a continent to court to upend pesticide ban
