Aldi requests farmers to stop using Neonics.
Aldi requests suppliers stop using pesticides hazardous to bees
German and Dutch fruit and vegetable suppliers have been asked by German discount retailer Aldi to stop using eight pesticides that were found hazardous to bees. According to a press release from Greenpeace, Aldi Süd has asked the suppliers to bring this into effect at the earliest possible time. This makes Aldi the first European retail to put a stop on the use of these pesticides, which include thiamethoxam, chlorpyrifos, clothianidin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fipronil, imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor.
The Dutch and German growers, who supply fruits and vegetables to Aldi Süd, will now have to adapt their cultivation to suit the new requirement from Aldi. According to Greenpeace, this will not be a huge problem. More and more farmers and growers are succeeding in cultivating food without using these pesticides, Greenpeace said in the release.
Nefyto, the trade association of the agrochemical industry in the Netherlands, considers the requirement of Aldi Süd undesirable and inappropriate. Nefyto Secretary Jo Ottenheim says, “As a society we have an usage policy. Pesticides and similar products may only be used if the risks have been assessed and approved. Aldi's move is considered undesirable by the Ctgb (College for the authorization of plant protection products and biocides.
http://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/news/22414
http://www.freshplaza.com/article/15...ardous-to-bees
