Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 March 2023
786. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine about the safety of the insecticide, acetamiprid, in relation to its use near bee colonies; and if there are any regulations covering same (details supplied). [15354/23]
View answerPesticide active substances, such as acetamiprid, contained in plant protection products are approved centrally at EU level based on a rigorous peer review process managed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Products are subsequently authorised, or not, nationally by the relevant Competent Authorities, in accordance with evaluation and decision-making criteria agreed at EU level and taking account of local agri-environmental conditions.
Products are only authorised if it can be reliably concluded that the intended uses have no unacceptable impacts on human and animal health and the environment. Potential impacts on honeybees are considered as part of the active substance approval and product authorisation in all cases.
The use of acetamiprid in plant protection products was reapproved at EU level in 2018 for a 15-year period, based on EFSA’s scientific conclusions. EFSA did not identify any critical areas of concern for the uses it assessed.
In Ireland, there are currently three products containing acetamiprid authorised for the control of pine weevil in forestry situations as part of an overall integrated pest management strategy.
Plant Protection products must always be applied by trained professional users and used in accordance with conditions of the authorisation.
