April 4, 2013

expert encounter: Ian Boyd on bees and neonicotinoids

On 15 March 2013, Britain abstained in the EU vote on suspension of neonicotinoids.  More recently a Defra assessment including new results from a study carried out by FERA has concluded that available evidence is not currently sufficient to warrant a change in the law on use of this class of insecticide.

Prof Ian Boyd, Defra’s Chief Scientific Advisor, came to the SMC to brief journalists on the state of the evidence on neonicotinoids and the reasoning behind the government position.