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While PAN Europe recognises that it was a good media stunt to release the Humboldt “scientific study” on neonicotinoids the day before EFSA published its highly critical opinion on 3 neonicotinoides insecticides harmful to bees, we contest the finding in this pesticides industry-sponsored study (HFFA 1/2013) on socio-economic impact of neonicotinoids suspension in Europe.
The baseline on which the Humboldt study is done is unrealistic:
- Calculations are not taking into accounts actual national bans.
- Calculations are only considering that neonicotinoids (NNi) will be replaced by other chemicals though in reality non chemical alternatives exist.
- Calculations are not taking into account implementation of EU plant health policy and the EU sustainable use directive.
- Calculations are not taking into account the “externalities” (side effects on beneficial insects and entire ecosystems, water pollution, human illness...)
At the same time the calculations in the Humboldt study are dependent, biased and nontransparent