Neonicotinoids have been under discussion for representing a risk to wild bees and honeybees. Since 1 December 2013 farmers have been unable to purchase or sow seeds of crop varieties known to be attractive to bees if the seeds have been treated with neonicotinoids. Against this background, our newest HFFA Research Paper 01/2017 written by Dr. Steffen Noleppa analyses the costs of an EU ban on neonicotinoids, specifically for the case of oilseed rape production.

The study presents a detailed ex-post assessment of the economic and environmental costs which are attributable to banning this class of insecticides. It also highlights some of the global and environmental implications of a ban on neonicotinoids that are often neglected in current public discussions.

Based on these findings, the author advises to holistically assess all costs and risks related to neonicotinoids, and not to focus only the risks to pollinators when discussing the future of this ban. The study has been released today, at the European Parliament in Brussels.

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