The European Parliament adopted by 421 votes to 177 with 20 abstentions, a resolution objecting to the draft Commission implementing regulation amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 as regards the extension of the approval periods of the active substances abamectin, Bacillus subtilis (Cohn 1872) Strain QST 713, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Aizawai, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israeliensis, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Beauveria bassiana, benfluralin, clodinafop, clopyralid, Cydia pomonella Granulovirus (CpGV), cyprodinil, dichlorprop‑P, epoxiconazole, fenpyroximate, fluazinam, flutolanil, fosetyl, Lecanicillium muscarium, mepanipyrim, mepiquat, Metarhizium anisopliae var. Anisopliae, metconazole, metrafenone, Phlebiopsis gigantea, pirimicarb, Pseudomonas chlororaphis strain: MA 342, pyrimethanil, Pythium oligandrum, rimsulfuron, spinosad, Streptomyces K61, thiacloprid, tolclofos‑methyl, Trichoderma asperellum, Trichoderma atroviride, Trichoderma gamsii, Trichoderma harzianum, triclopyr, trinexapac, triticonazole, Verticillium albo-atrum and ziram.

Parliament recalled that thiacloprid has been approved for use as an insecticide since 1 January 2005. A procedure to renew the approval of thiacloprid has been ongoing since 2015 and includes the three years’ notice required, the current approval period expiring on 30 April 2019. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/524 has already extended the approval period of the active substance thiacloprid.

Members considered that the Commission has not justified the second extension of the approval of the substance. They also raised the following issues:

Endocrine disrupting properties

Parliament noted that several recent studies suggest that thiacloprid has endocrine disrupting effects, genotoxic and cytotoxic effects and a neurodevelopmental impact, and is neurotoxic and immunotoxic. The active substance thiacloprid is considered to present ‘endocrine disrupting properties’ in the EU Pesticides database and is a candidate for substitution. The European Chemicals Agency has classified the active substance thiacloprid as a suspected human carcinogen and presumed human reproductive toxicant.

Threat to biodiversity

The resolution indicated that thiacloprid can be toxic to honey bees. It can affect the learning and memory performance of honeybees and thus the vitality of their colonies . Recent scientific publications have demonstrated that the active substance affects the immunocompetence of honeybees, which is already considerably weakened.

Conclusions

In the light of these considerations, Parliament was of the opinion that the decision to register thiacloprid cannot be justified, as there is insufficient evidence to suggest that unacceptable risks to animals, food safety and pollinators will be prevented. It considered that the draft Commission implementing regulation is not based on an urgent need for the active substance thiacloprid for the purposes of agriculture in the Union, and that it does not respect the precautionary principle.

Members felt that the Commission should propose instead a special status for honey bees, which takes into account the fact that pollinators are indispensable for sustainable agriculture, for crop production and simultaneously for other wild and food-producing animals, and propose to modify, harmonise and increase the coherence of relevant regulations in the light of this, with a view to ensuring a high level of protection for honey bees and other pollinators.

Parliament called on the Commission to:

- withdraw its draft implementing regulation and to submit a new draft to the committee that takes into account the chronic effect of the active substance thiacloprid on honey bees, human and animal health, and the environment;

- to ban, without delay, active substances in the neonicotinoid class or substances that act in the same way, including thiacloprid.