April 27, 2018

BRUSSELS -- Moments ago, a qualified majority of European governments voted to widen a ban on three bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides. In reaction to the vote, Wiebke Schröder, a Berlin-based Campaign Manager for SumOfUs, an international consumer group, issued the following statement:

“Earlier this year, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)’s updated risk assessment added to the mountain of evidence that neonics are harmful to bees and a key culprit in killing off bees around the world and we are glad that the majority of European governments recognized that threat and voted to support a widened ban on bee-killing pesticides.

“This move is critical for protecting bees and other important pollinators - we hope this ban will encourage governments around the world to follow suit..”

More than 633,000 people have signed onto a petition started by SumOfUs, calling on the European governments to vote in favor of the European Commission’s proposal to widen the ban on bee-killing neonic pesticides.