Global consumer group 'SumOfUs' is pushing European governments to introduce 'higher standards' to protect bees from pesticides.

Wielding a petition signed by over 130,000 EU residents, it is demanding that, at the imminent EU member state meeting in Brussels to consider the process by which pesticides like neonicotinoids are approved, the bee safety bar must be raised.

That EU vote, said the campaigners, should take into account a greater range of ways that pesticides harm bees, as set out in the EU’s proposed ‘Bee Guidance’ document. Earlier this year, under public pressure, the EU started a trial using these higher ‘Bee Guidance’ standards, which led to a historic ban on three neonicotinoid pesticides, imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam.

SumOfUs members and environmental activists want to see these higher standards become the norm, and cited continuing concerns regarding:

• The long-term effects of pesticides on bees and their colonies;

• The effects of exposure to low concentrations of pesticides;

• The cumulative effects of exposure to multiple pesticides.

“We all rely on bees to pollinate fruit, vegetables, and crops," said campaign manager Rebecca Falcon. "All across the world industrial pesticides, climate change and urbanisation are pushing bees to the brink – and unless our governments and the EU take concrete steps to save the bees, this trend shows no sign of reversing.

“The current method for testing pesticides is inadequate and ignores many ways that bees can be harmed," she insisted. "To save the bees, it is imperative that our governments radically improve the system and adopt advice from scientists that puts harm done to bees front and centre and we have to act now.”