On 28 April, the 28 EU Member States agreed to ban the use of several pesticides considered dangerous for bees in the open air, since they are neurotoxic substances that attack the nervous system of insects, and whose use was already restricted from 2013, following a first negative evaluation from the European Agency for Food Safety (EFSA).
As a consequence of this decision, AILIMPO, the Interprofessional Organization of Lemon and Grapefruit Producers, which is sensitive to this issue and wishes to protect bees and other pollinating insects (which are fundamental for the production of lemons and grapefruits), has immediately reviewed its Manual of Active Ingredients recommended for lemons, eliminating neonicotinoids from the list, namely imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. The new version of the manual is now available on AILIMPO's website.
Although legally the ban on these active ingredients will not come into force until the end of 2018, AILIMPO has immediately withdrawn its recommendation from its work manual.
The AILIMPO Manual aims to recommend treatments for various types of pests or diseases affecting lemons, always under the premise of sustainable and rational use, and evidently paying special attention to the care of the environment and biodiversity. "Food safety and plant health are key points in AILIMPO's action plan. Every year, the organization constantly supports and promotes the sustainable use of plant protection products," says José Antonio García, director of the Interprofessional Organization. "This manual is consequently designed to be a basic and indispensable tool for the sector."