Bayer pesticides may be called bees dangerous from today

The chemical and pharmaceutical group Bayer will not proceed against the Federal Government for Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND). The federation had designated pesticides of the enterprise as bee dangerous then Bayer wanted to forbid this statement juristically. The lawsuit has now been settled.

BUND may refer to pesticides as bees dangerous
The German Federal Agency for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) may describe pesticides of the chemical and pharmaceutical group Bayer as "bee dangerous". According to a report by the news agency dpa, the subsidiary Bayer CropScience had gone to court against the environmental association. Now the dispute was settled. As reported by "domradio.de", a spokesman for Bayer told the Evangelical Press Service (epd) that the company renounces an appeal against a judgment of the Düsseldorf district court.

Statement has, according to the competent judge a "fact core"
Last year, BUND published a brochure entitled "Pesticide sale in DIY stores and garden centers - BUND-Einkaufscheck". The environmentalists wanted to point out that sellers in gardening and DIY stores would often mislead customers about the use of various weed and insect control products. With the Dusseldorf verdict, the BUND is now entitled to repeat unequivocally the statement that two pesticide products manufactured by Bayer are dangerous for bees. The judge in charge explained that the statement has a "core of facts" and is covered by the freedom of expression. Meanwhile, the appeal period ended against the verdict, without the company appealed.

Studies confirm harmful effects
The dispute involved two pesticide products containing the neonicotinoid active substance thiacloprid, which has been evaluated as scientifically hazardous to bees. Nevertheless, Bayer is printing a logo on the packaging of thiacloprid-containing products such as "Pest-free Calypso" and "Ornamental plant spray Lizetan" with the imprint "Not harmful to bees". Meanwhile, a study by the EASAC research group, which advises EU decision-makers, confirmed that neonicotinoids damage honey bees and wild bees. This study also provided evidence of adverse effects on other organisms such as birds and butterflies. Scientists from the UK and France have years ago found in studies that pesticides are the cause of bee mortality.

Bayer should take products from the market
"The bee danger of the Bayer products with the neonicotinoid active ingredient thiacloprid has been scientifically proven. Bayer must immediately remove them from the market. "This was what BUND Chairman Hubert Weiger demanded. "To protect bees and other creatures, all pesticide manufacturers, as well as horticultural and hardware stores, must stop selling neonicotinoid products immediately. And Federal Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt must instruct the responsible German supervisory authority to withdraw the approvals for these products. "

Every tenth bee species is threatened with extinction
In addition, the BUND chairman called on farmers and fruit growers to voluntarily renounce pesticides from the group of neonicotinoids. This is of particular importance in the early spring during the flowering season, as thiacloprid is mainly used in rapeseed and fruit growing. According to "domradio.de", a study commissioned by the EU Commission recently came to the conclusion that every tenth bee species in Europe is threatened with extinction. EU Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella reportedly blamed intensive agriculture and the use of insecticides and fertilizers. Climate change also contributes to bee mortality. The EU is said to want to re-examine the effects of the controversial pesticides.

Crucial role in the ecosystem
The decline in bee and bumblebee populations has led to intensive discussions about causes and effects in recent years. The beneficial insects play a crucial role in the ecosystem. They pollinate billions of plants and thus ensure that they can bear fruit or reproduce. Years ago, the United Nations (UN) announced that the absence of bees could potentially trigger a global food crisis. (Ad)

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