Neonicotinoids are a commonly used pesticide, which is applied to the seed prior to planting rather than by spray application. Opponents believe it is responsible for causing disorientation in bees and consequently partly responsible for the decline in bee populations. Incidentally, many bee keepers do not believe the insecticide has any impact on bee populations, but the European Union have sanctioned a moratorium on the use of neonicotinoids for two years to help collect data and give a better understanding of the impact of their use. The two-year EU ban on the use of neonicotinoid treated seed will apply to all growers planting rapeseed from 2014, but while the UK Government accepts the EU ban it rejects the science behind the moratorium.
