WIREDGOV

A clear majority of Member States have supported the Commission's proposal for a protection goal of 10% yesterday at the AGRIFISH Council, following a political discussion at the request of the European Commission. The 10% threshold supported by the Ministers will now be taken into account by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to finalise the Guidance Document. 

Welcoming the agreement, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides yesterday made the following statement:

“I welcome the constructive debate in the Council today and the clear support for an ambitious goal in the critical protection of our pollinators. We can now put the deadlock in the discussions behind us, and finally focus on achieving the desired results. Time is of essence – for our environment and the wellbeing of our planet.

“I am therefore pleased that a clear majority of Ministers have today supported our goal to increase our ambitions and significantly strengthen the level of protection provided to bees. Ministers have supported a maximum permitted level of honeybee colony size reduction of 10% as specific protection goal across the EU. This increases the protection as it is significantly lower than what is accepted under the current guidance. At the same time it is realistic, allowing for the conduct of field studies to measure whether the protection goal is met. This is very good news and a significant achievement. 

“We all know that ensuring a high level of protection of bees and other pollinators is crucial for the environment. The decision taken today by the Ministers will enable EFSA to finalise the review of the Bee Guidance Document. Concretely, this means that the risk assessment for honeybees from exposure to pesticides willfinally be updated after almost 20 years. 

“The decision taken today is therefore a clear sign of our commitment and engagement to achieve the objectives of the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies. I now call on the European Parliament to engage constructively and ensure that we can finally give bees the protection they deserve.”

Next steps

The European Food Safety Authority can now finalise the review of the Bee Guidance Document. Subsequently a draft Regulation enabling the implementation of the Bee Guidance Document will be submitted to the Standing Committee Plants, Animals, Food and Feed. To move forward, a qualified majority is needed. The draft Regulation will then be subject to scrutiny by the Parliament and the Council before adoption by the Commission.

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