WRITTEN QUESTION P-1804/02

by Dominique Souchet (NI) to the Commission

(19 June 2002)

Subject: Urgent action in support of beekeeping

The European Parliament recently adopted a resolution (Lannoye report A5-0155/2002) on type-approval of plant-protection products, in paragraph 20 of which it calls on the Commission to ensure that the plant-protection product evaluation criteria explicitly include assessment of the impact which the active substances have on domestic bee populations and the views of professional beekeepers organisations regarding those substances.

The amount of time required for the implementation of this resolution is incompatible with the seriousness of the situation in which the beekeeping sector finds itself. This problem is largely due to a catastrophic mortality rate caused by two systemic pesticides imidaclopride and fipronil which are used to coat the seeds of arable crops and which (as proven by the French National Agricultural Research Institute of Avignon-Montfavet (INRA) and the analyses carried out by the French National Scientific Research Centre in Orléans (CNRS) showing the presence at toxic levels of imidaclopride in maize and sunflower pollens) are harmful not only to the crops treated, but also to future crops since the active substances remain in crop residues buried in the soil, and subsequently in the humus.

What action does the Commission intend to take, other than applying the precautionary principle, which ought to have been applied as soon as doubts were raised, in order to prevent the harmful effects of these two active substances?

What action has it taken in response to the Agriculture Council's request of 18 February 2002 that it adopt specific measures to resolve the serious crisis affecting the Community beekeeping sector?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 July 2002)

Article 4 of Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market(1) requires Member States to ensure that authorised plant protection products do not have an unacceptable impact on non-target species; such species include honey bees. As already stated in the Commission answers to oral question H-0332/01 by Mr Bernié at question time during the May 2001 session of Parliament(2) and oral question H-0082/01 by Mr Bernié at question time during the February 2001 session of Parliament(3), both active substances to which the Honourable Member refers are to be assessed under the Community review programme for existing active substances. Pending the outcome of that assessment, Member States' rules continue to apply.

Based on the information available, the Commission still considers immediate action at Community level to be unnecessary. Member States are free to take appropriate measures in the event of particular concern about certain uses. For example, as a precaution and in response to concern, France has suspended use of imidacloprid on sunflowers and is carrying out an epidemiological study. The results will be taken into account both in France's own review and in the Community review programme. The Commission has not so far received any scientific information on similar problems in other Member States. No other Member State has authorised the use of imidacloprid on sunflowers. The Commission will monitor the situation and, if necessary, take appropriate measures in due course.

In February 2001 the Commission presented its report(4) to the Council and Parliament on the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1221/97 laying down general rules for the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of honey(5).

In April 2001 the Commission adopted Regulation (EC) No 704/2001(6) amending Regulation (EC) No 2300/97(7) on detailed rules to implement Council Regulation (EC) No 1221/97 laying down general rules for the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of honey; the Council deemed this to be satisfactory as a follow-up to the report.

In December 2001 Parliament adopted a resolution on the February 2001 Commission report and called on the Commission to take seven steps in support of European beekeeping: to set up a common organisation of markets with direct income aid and a pollination premium; to include beekeeping in the compensatory payments scheme provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1259/1999 of 17 May 1999 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy(8); to transfer the varroasis control measure to veterinary legislation; to grant aid for promoting quality honey; to increase the budget for, and the share of, Community part-financing; to adopt a harmonised and flexible approach in implementing national programmes; and to grant aid for investment in restocking material.

In February 2002 the Council noted majority Member State support for a number of the measures proposed by the Parliament resolution and called on the Commission to expand its activities in this sector.

The budget heading allocated to honey programmes has been increased by 10 % in 2002 and the Commission has amended the Decisions relating to the programmes accordingly. This budgetary increase has been maintained in the preliminary draft budget for next year.

Moreover, France's 2001-2002 marketing year national programme which the Commission approved in July 2001 provides for studies on how plant protection products affect honey quality. The 2002-2003 marketing year programme includes aid for investment in restocking material.

(1) OJ L 230, 19.8.1991 (as last amended by Commission Directive 2002/48/EC of 30 May 2002, OJ L 148, 6.6.2002).

(2) Written answer, 15.5.2001.

(3) Written answer, 13.2.2001.

(4) COM(2001) 70 final.

(5) OJ L 173, 1.7.1997 (as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 2070/98 of 28 September 1998, OJ L 265, 30.9.1998).

(6) OJ L 98, 7.4.2001.

(7) OJ L 319, 21.11.1997.

(8) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.