Brussels – A report released today by the European Food Safety
Authority (EFSA)  has linked commonly used pesticides, known as
neonicotinoids, to serious effects on bee populations. EFSA
indicates “high risks” in the use of neonicotinoids and stresses
that there are major gaps in available data. These gaps raise
fundamental questions about the ability of current safety
testing to assess risks posed by pesticides on the environment
and health, said Greenpeace. Commenting on the findings of the
report, Greenpeace EU agriculture policy director Marco Contiero
said: “The report by the European Food Safety Authority confirms
that neonicotinoids are the mustard gas of the insect world and
should be banned before it is too late. One third of our food
could not be produced if bees and other pollinators were to
disappear. The writing is on the wall: the EU can no longer
delay action and should follow the examples of France, Germany
and Italy, who already have bans on neonicotinoids.” Greenpeace
calls on European polic