One of the notable details of Monday’s landmark ruling to ban the use
of some neonicotinoid pesticides across the European Union was
Germany’s vote in favour. Germany hosts chemical giant Bayer, which
makes the most widely used neonicotinoid, but switched from its previous
abstention.
This move was entirely in line with the eco-friendly
words of the spokesman for German agriculture minister, Ilse Aigner, on
the Friday before the vote: “The accusation that Germany is blocking the
protection of bees is completely absurd and baseless.”
However, I
have obtained documents that reveal a very different line was being
taken in secret by German officials. On the same Friday, it submitted a
new text, for the proposed suspension with this clause added:
Member
States should be allowed to refrain from withdrawal if it is shown by
evidence based on the current state of scientific knowledge and
technology that the risk of exposure of bees and other pollinators to
these substances is negligible
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