The UK government issues, with strict conditions, emergency authorisation to use a product containing a neonicotinoid to treat sugar beet seed in England.
In 2021, the Health and Safety Executive received an application from National Farmers Union (NFU) Sugar and British Sugar seeking emergency authorisation for the use of a neonicotinoid product as a seed treatment on sugar beet. The product is ‘Cruiser SB’ which provides protection against a range of pests and the viruses which they transmit.
We have issued, with strict conditions an emergency authorisation to use a product containing a neonicotinoid to treat sugar beet seed in England.
Alongside the statement on the decision to issue, we have included the following documents that informed the decision making process:
- Defra’s Chief Scientific Adviser’s advice on the use of Cruiser SB on the UK’s sugar beet crops in 2021 and 2022
- Defra’s economist’s analysis on the impacts of virus yellows on sugar beet production
- emergency authorisation guiding principles, outlining the key elements involved in assessing and deciding on applications for emergency authorisation of plant protection products
- the Health and Safety Executive’s emergency registration report
- the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides’ advice
2021 Decision
In 2020, the Health and Safety Executive received an application from NFUSugar and British Sugar seeking emergency authorisation for the use of a neonicotinoid product as a seed treatment on sugar beet. The product is ‘Cruiser SB’ which provides protection against a range of pests and the viruses which they transmit.
We issued with strict conditions an emergency authorisation to use a product containing a neonicotinoid to treat sugar beet seed in 2021.
Update March 2021: As a result of these strict conditions the seed treatment did not go ahead in 2021. Neonicotinoids were not used to treat sugar beet seed.
Source: UK Government
