Soil Association: Ban bee-killing pesticides

The Environment Committee of the European parliament will today vote on proposals which could prohibit the use of potentially harmful substances throughout the European Union.

The substances concerned - carcinogenic, mutagenic, neurotoxic and reprotoxic - have a devastating impact on honey bees across the world, according to the Soil Association.

Peter Melchett, the organisation's policy director, called on the UK to implement similar environmental health policies.

"The UK government should follow suit and support EU proposals to ban these dangerous chemicals," he said, adding: "The government should be acting to protect public safety and wildlife, not merely a small sector of the chemical industry."

The Soil Association is the leading campaigning and certification organisation for organic food and farming in the UK.

Its annual conference, entitled Transition: Food and Farming in 21st century Britain, takes place on November 18th and 19th this year.