After EU's restriction on three neonicotinoid pesticides which are believed to harm bees, China adds on its concern on the restriction on neonicotinoids as well. On 1 July 2013, dozens of experts have been summoned up by ICAMA to discuss the future control initiatives upon neonicotinoid insecticides.

The experts acknowledged that neonicotinoids play a key role in China as part of agricultural production. However, scientific research shows that neonicotinoids are harmful to bees and other pollinators. With a view of the difference between China and EU in agricultural pest management and beekeeping, it is suggested that China monitor their potential risks on bees:

• A sound method of risk assessment should be established, which will be utilized to evaluate the substantial impact on bees in a scientific and systematic way;

• Launch the risk assessment on the use of neonicotinoids on the bee-attracting and other indefinite inflorescence crops;

• To carefully censor the production, uses of neonicotinoids, as well as their effects on other beneficial organisms;

• Strengthen the technical cooperation with other concerned countries, which would help to draw the conclusion in an objective and scientific approach;

• In order to minimize the potential risks, label of corresponding products would be revised;

• Full consideration should be taken on the balance between the risk and benefit of neonicotinoids;

• If it is necessary to ban/restrict the use of neonicotinoids, the decision should be made under sufficient science-based data;

The meeting was jointly organized by the Environmental Review Office and the Registration Review Office of ICAMA. The latter was just established this year, which is responsible for re-considering or phasing out the pesticide previously registered with ICAMA.

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