Beekeepers protest next to a giant inflatable bee in front of the European Council and Commission in Brussels, Monday, April 29, 2013. EU Member States meet on Monday, to decide on a proposal by the European Commission to impose a 2-year moratorium on neonicotinoid pesticides, which many scientists agree are the driving force behind Europe's dramatic bee decline. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
Beekeepers protest next to a giant inflatable bee in front of the European Council and Commission in Brussels, Monday, April 29, 2013. EU Member States meet on Monday, to decide on a proposal by the European Commission to impose a 2-year moratorium on neonicotinoid pesticides, which many scientists agree are the driving force behind Europe's dramatic bee decline. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
Beekeepers protest next to a giant inflatable bee in front of the European Council and Commission in Brussels, Monday, April 29, 2013. EU Member States meet on Monday, to decide on a proposal by the European Commission to impose a 2-year moratorium on neonicotinoid pesticides, which many scientists agree are the driving force behind Europe's dramatic bee decline. The text in French reads: 'Stop the slaughter'. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
In this photo taken Monday, April 15, 2013, honey bees and the queen (with yellow dot) sit on a honeycomb in Wezembeek-Oppem near Brussels. EU Member States meet on Monday April 29, to decide on a proposal by the European Commission to impose a 2-year moratorium on neonicotinoid pesticides, which many scientists agree are the driving force behind Europe's dramatic bee decline. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
A beekeeper protests in front of the European Council and Commission in Brussels, Monday, April 29, 2013. EU Member States meet on Monday, to decide on a proposal by the European Commission to impose a 2-year moratorium on neonicotinoid pesticides, which many scientists agree are the driving force behind Europe's dramatic bee decline. The text in French reads: 'Stop the slaughter'. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
BRUSSELS (AP) ? The European Union plans to restrict the use of three pesticides to better protect dwindling bee populations.
The announcement Monday was cheered by environmentalists, disappointed chemical companies and came after the bloc's 27 nations failed to agree on a common stand.
EU Consumer Commissioner Tonio Borg said his agency will override the deadlock and move "in the coming weeks" to restrict three neonicotinoid pesticides on plants and cereals that attract bees. The measure takes effect Dec. 1 for two years unless decisive new information becomes available.
Beekeepers have reported an unusual decline in bees over the past decade, particularly in Western Europe, according to the European Food Safety Authority. It says bees are critically important to the environment, sustaining biodiversity by providing pollination for a wide range of crops and wild plants ? including most of the food crops in Europe.
Borg said bees contribute over 22 billion euros ($29 billion) a year to European agriculture.
In all, 15 EU nations were for the restrictions, eight were against and four abstained. Borg said he still felt confident in moving ahead because "a majority of member states now support our proposal."
Environmentalists welcomed the move.
"Today's pesticide ban throws Europe's bees a vital lifeline," said Iain Keith of the Avaaz environmental group. "Europe is taking science seriously and must now put the full ban in place to give bees the breathing space they need."
But major chemical companies, which were against Borg's proposals, have questioned the scientific evidence for such a ban.
The head of the EU Parliament's environmental committee acknowledged that "precise data is still lacking" but applauded the consumer agency's action.
"We shall now try to understand how exactly neonicotinoids affect the behavior of bees," said Matthias Groote.
Associated Press
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