Free Republic

Three neonicotinoid insecticides are to be banned from use on crops that attract bees for two years in the EU. This follows a vote by member states yesterday. Although the final vote did not reach the majority needed for legislation to pass, the hung result allows the commission to decide further action. Tonio Borg, health and consumer commissioner, made it clear in a statement that the ban will proceed, citing a study by the European Food Safety Authority, published in January, that concluded that the pesticides posed a ‘high acute risk’ to pollinators, including honeybees. Applying clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiametoxam...

While spending billions preaching about deterring your kids from smoking, two new studies suggest big tobacco may actually have engaged in a backdoor effort to increase Nicotene content in cigarettes. Studies done by the Massachusetts Health Department and Harvard indicate Nicotene content in some major brands such as Newport, Camel and Doral increased as much as 11 percent. One of the largest selling brands, Marlboro, showed no Nicotene increase during the years both studies were conducted, 1997 to 2005. Doctor Michael Steinberg of U-M-D-N-J's Tobacco Dependence Program says it is in their best business interests to make their product as...