The European Union (EU) is closing in on neonicotinoide-based agricultural pesticides – considered harmful to pollinating insects such as the bee. Through the European Commission (EC), the executive body of the European bloc, new rules have been adopted with the aim of lowering the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) of thiamethxame and clotianidine in food.

According to an EC statement, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued opinions showing that these two active ingredients pose a "high risk" for pollinators, thus contributing to the overall decline of these beneficial insects. It is important to highlight that this measure affects not only the products grown in the European Union, but also the imported ones – which directly affects Brazil.

According to the European specialised portal Rural Life, the new rules will reduce MRLs already in place to the "lowest level that can be measured with the latest technologies, and will be applied to all products produced in the EU, but also imported from 2026, in order to give time to third countries to comply with the new rules".

"With regard to the use and risk of pesticides, we have always been clear about our commitment to protecting the health of our citizens and our environment. Today's actions, which also affect imported food, are based on our decision in 2018 to ban the outdoor use of these two neonicotinoides in the EU, as for the first time maximum levels of pesticide residues will be reduced to combat the decline of pollinator scares and protect our environment," said the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety,  Stella Kyriakides.

Source: Agrolink