Reply from the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food regarding the letter initiated by the European Citizens' Initiative "Save Bees and Farmers"

The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI)"Save Bees and Farmers" initiated the submission of an open letter to the Minister of Agriculture and Food and the Minister of Environment and Water, asking them to confirm that Bulgaria will support the ban on the use of sulfoxaflor, benfluralin and cypermethrin. These three active substances cause the greatest damage to bee populations. The letter was supported by Bulgarian associations and organizations working to protect bees and the environment at local level. See the full text of the letter here.

We received a response to the letter from the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food regarding the position of Bulgaria according to the use of the three active substances - sulfoxaflor, benfluralin and cypermethrin that are part of plant protection products.

At the meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed held on 19-20.05.2021, the expressed position of Bulgaria is against a project to amend the use conditions of sulfoxaflor. The arguments in support of this position are that the safe use of the substance is possible without the need to limit it only in greenhouses. Safe use can be ensured by implementing appropriate risk mitigation measures at national level such as: limiting field use outside the flowering period of crops, removal of flowering vegetation, designation of buffer zones using nozzles to reduce spreading and etc.

At the meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, Bulgaria voted in favor of a project not to renew the approval of benfluralin.

Regarding the use of cypermethrin, Bulgaria's preliminary position is in support of a project to renew the approval of the active substance. The reasons for this are that the risk to bees is considered acceptable when applying risk mitigation measures.

The reply to the letter did not provide information on what percentage of reduction in colony size from pesticide exposure was supported by Bulgaria at the meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed on 24/25 March and what was Bulgaria's position at the meeting of the Committee on 19/20 May according to that percentage.

Unfortunately, and despite the fact that most politicians claim they want to protect bees and nature, facts show us that many EU Member States and the European Commission keep supporting the ecocide generated by pesticides, thus going against the European Green Deal.

The full text of the reply to the letter can be found here (in Bulgarian).