The proposed suspension of three neonicotinoids is expected to come to fruition by July, according to the European Commision, despite environmental ministers failing to reach a majority vote on the insecticides’ future last week.

The EC had proposed a two-year suspension on the use of the controversial chemicals – supplied by Bayer CropScience, headquartered in Germany, and Syngenta, based in the UK – but their future was thought to be safe following last week’s inconclusive vote.

However, the future of the three neonicotinoids – clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam – each linked with damaging the health of cross-pollinating bees, will now be put forward to an appeals committee.

Speaking on the proposed suspension, Frédéric Vincent, an EC health and consumer policy representative said: “The Commission still envisages to have measures in place by 1 July 2013. Following the inconclusive outcome of a Standing Committee meeting vote last week, the next step of the procedure will be a discussion and a vote at an Appeal Committee, which will take place later this spring.”

However, NFU horticultural adviser Chris Hartfield said there was a lack of concrete evidence in the data the EC initally recieved from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which suggested that the insecticides caused damage to agricultural bee populations.

Hartfield added that the three neonicotinoids are currently worth an estimated £630 million a year to the UK economy and that a suspension poses a significant risk to the environment and the productivity of growers.

“A use of multiple sprays instead of a single seed treatment would result in higher loading of the environment and we believe the proposed alternative broad-spectrum sprays present a higher risk to bees and other beneficial insects than the neonicotinoids currently do,” explained Hartfield.

Syngenta chief operating officer John Atkin concluded: “Restricting the use of this vital crop protection technology will do nothing to improve bee health.”

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