European Commission issues two-year ban on pesticides harmful to bees

The European Commission is to ban for two years beginning in December, pesticides blamed for killing the bees that pollinate food and fruit crops.

EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg said the decision to ban the three insecticides, made by chemicals giants Bayer and Syngenta, "marks another milestone towards ensuring a healthier future" for bees.

The companies insist their products are not to blame for a very sharp decline in the bee population, which has stoked fears over future food security, made worse by the unpredictable impact of climate change.