A regional wildlife charity says it is horrified that the green light has been given to use a previously banned chemical on sugar beet crops, an action that it believes contradicts Government promises to protect and improve nature.
The Government permitted an emergency authorisation on the use of thiamethoxam in January, a highly toxic pesticide which was banned in 2018 due to unacceptable risks to the environment, especially to bees and other pollinators.
Northumberland Wildlife Trust says it is appalled, and that the decision to authorise the use of thiamethoxam goes against recommendations from the Government's advisors, the Health and Safety Executive and the Expert Committee on Pesticides, both of whom state they cannot support the authorisation.
