Although the contamination rate has fallen from a half since a partial EU ban the insecticides remain in the farmed environment posing a serious risk to beesAlmost a quarter of British honey samples remain contaminated after a partial ban on neonicotinoid pesticides, new research has revealed. Neonicotinoids at the levels found in the honey are not known to pose any risk to human health. The new research, based on scores of samples from across Britain, goes further by comparing contamination rates before and after the EU ban. The honey samples analysed in the new study were donated by amateur beekeepers and came from single locations. To investigate the issue further, CEH is developing a national scheme to monitor pesticide residues in honey samples sent in by amateur and professional beekeepers.

Source: The Guardian January 05, 2018 11:48 UTC