After all the hue and cry, here's a surprise -

No pesticides at all were banned in Germany.

There was only a temporary suspension of the 
use of certain pesticides on treated seeds in
specific types of pneumatic seed drills.


We have all been misled by a press that should 
fact-check more, and use more precise language.
We have been further misled by people with 
agendas that don't really have any interest 
in the facts when the facts don't match their
agenda.

Here's one reporter who got his facts straight:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/25367916

"Germany..... lifted a temporary ban 
on some of Bayer AG.'s insecticides 
for the treatment of canola seeds...

Bayer's corn seed treatment Poncho, 
together with three other corn 
treatments, remain suspended until 
better seed treatment and sowing 
methods have been developed..."

I was pointed to the MSNBC story by a 
chemist who can actually pronounce the 
names of all these pesticides.  Here 
is a list of what was temporarily 
subjected to the initial suspension:

Antarc, (imidacloprid [neonic] + beta-cyfluthrin [pyrethroid]) 
Chinook, (same as above) 
Cruiser (thiamethoxam [neonic]) 
Elado, (clothianidin [neonic] + beta-cyfluthrin [pyrethroid]) 
Faibel, (imidacloprid [neonic] + something else) 
Mesurol (methiocarb [carbamate]) 
Poncho, (clothianidin [neonic]) 

So more than just neonicotinoids were subjected to the 
temporary suspension.

What was the common factor between all these different pesticides?
The "seed treatment and sowing methods" mentioned in the article.

Why were some of the pesticides taken off the suspension list?
The article explains clearly:

"...on the canola products was now 
lifted because the ventilation used 
in corn sowing machines, which 
aggravated the spread of the insecticide, 
is not used in canola sowing."

Further, we have the original suspension
order from Germany's BVL, which when combined
with the MSNBC report, gives a much more clear
impression of the intent of the temporary
suspensions:

http://tinyurl.com/6ktc9u

Now, this is a Google translation, and the English
is far less than a perfect. I'll paste a better one 
for the key paragraph.

Where the Google Translation says "This examination 
revealed that the distribution...", a better
translation would be:

"The enquiry showed that the use of pneumatic 
sowing machines of a particular construction 
type for the sowing of seeds treated with 
insecticides led to a higher degree of bee 
exposure than was hitherto assumed in the 
registration process."

So, Germany suspended only the planting of
these seed treatments with specific pneumatic 
drills.  The pesticides were still "approved 
for use" by farmers who use non-pneumatic 
planting equipment.  

But don't expect anyone to pay any attention
to the facts, and don't expect to see it all
explained clearly anywhere else but here.

I'm sure it will become another myth that
will be difficult to put a stake into the
heart of, just like the nonsense about 
self-described "organic beekeepers" not 
having problems with CCD.

Any people wonder why I can get a little 
testy about minor details like "the facts" 
sometimes... sheesh.

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