The EU voted on 29th April 2013 in favour of a partial ban on neonicitinoid pesticides, which have been linked by some studies to the worrying decline in honeybee populations. 15 member states voted for a ban, 4 abstained and 8 countries (including the UK) voted against. The European Commission may be able to implement restrictions before the end of 2013. Honeybees are a vital pollinator of both wild and cultivated plants and some commercial crops depend on honeybees for one third of their pollinators.

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