In late April and early May 2008 a bee mortality occurred in parts of South-West Germany, which affected approximately 12,000 colonies of bees, some of them substantially. Immediately after this became known, an intensive search for the causes of these incidences was started. Very soon, maize seeds which had been treated with the insecticidal substance clothianidin were suspected as a possible cause. Only two weeks later a clothianidin poisoning was confirmed.
In late April and early May 2008 a bee mortality occurred in parts of South-West Germany, which affected approximately 12,000 colonies of bees, some of them substantially. Immediately after this became known, an intensive search for the causes of these incidences was started. Very soon, maize seeds which had been treated with the insecticidal substance clothianidin were suspected as a possible cause. Only two weeks later a clothianidin poisoning was confirmed.
On May 15, 2008 the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety ordered suspension of the authorisation of a number of insecticidal seed treatment products, especially those containing neonicotinoid substances such as clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam and in addition methiocarb.
