Carter rejects pesticide ban

Agriculture Minister David Carter has rejected a call to ban pesticides which put bees in jeopardy.

Green MP Sue Kedgley yesterday urged the Government to follow the European Union in phasing out pesticides that kill bees. But that would be impractical, Mr Carter said.

"Prohibiting all pesticides capable of killing bees would expose farmers and growers to the risk of significant crop losses," he said.

- NZPA