The "precautionary principle"

Many countries operate their affairs on the "precautionary principle"

Simply stated the "precautionary principle" says that while there is any doubt about a given product then we will not use it until we are sure that it is safe

The UK uses the opposite principle

Until you can prove 100% that this product is killing bees or anything else then we will not ban it.

Why does the UK adopt this policy?

No answer

Ministers have children so we wonder why they would support principles and procedures that put our environment and the future of their childrens lives at risk

Hard to answer because they do insist on continuing this approach

The only clear answer is that companies continue to make huge profits selling systemic products

They lobby hard

They have money

They have access to Ministers

A step has been voted on in the European Parliament to introduce a temporary ban in the case of bees.

Some countries have already unilaterally banned these products.

In the UK we can clearly say. 

One of the major problems with neonicotinoid pesticides is that they are "systemic", meaning they are taken up into every part of the plant which is treated with them.

Including the pollen and nectar.

This means that bees and other pollinating insects can absorb them and carry the poison back to their hives or nests.

Even if they are not the insecticide's target species.

Introduced by Bayer in the early 1990s, neonicotinoids have been an immense commercial success.

Bayer's imidacloprid was its top-selling insecticide in 2009, earning £510m – and have been used on vast areas. 

About 30 per cent of British cropland – 3.14 million acres – was being treated with the chemicals in 2010.

Nothing more to say really