MEPs block move to weaken bee protection from pesticides
The European Parliament has blocked a move by the European Commission to cut the use of pesticides that harm bees. The Commission was seeking to revise legislation to weaken EU rules protecting bee colonies from toxic pesticides.
But MEPs blocked the legislation, saying it ignored the risk to bee larvae from long-term exposure to chemicals, known as chronic toxicity.
The MEPS favour a guidance document (pdf) produced by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2013 that aims to cut the use of pesticides that harm bees.
Image: GettyImages/Filip_Krstic
