Recently in the Commons, Lib Dem MP, Tim Farron and colleagues fell to discussing the Government’s award of £10 million of research money to the troubled British beekeeping industry, to look into the health of bees required for pollination. Whilst Farron welcomed the £10 million funding, which may be one issue worthy of debate in a time of economic crisis, he was also well aware that much advancement in this area largely depends upon faulty EU regulations.
Regulations insist that bees are classed as livestock – so only vets can use treatments. This led the MP to ask the Government: “I want the Minister to confirm that she will lobby for a change in the EU regulations, under the veterinary medicines directorate, to allow not only vets but bee experts, including beekeepers, to decide on the use of treatments in order to ensure that we roll out those treatments effectively.” (29 April, House of Commons)
It has been suggested that the chances of achieving a change in EU regulations is nil. This has led many to insist that the possibility of the £10 million actually being used by beekeepers to decide on the use of treatments for bee health remains quite remote.
