On the eve of the Pesticide Action Week [1], the Cluj (Romania) Court of Appeal suspended [2] new derogations [3] granted by the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture for the use of neonicotinoid-treated seeds in maize and sunflower. Eco Ruralis and Romapis, a member of PAN Europe, initiated a court case in December, asking the Court to take urgent action to protect pollinators against these illegal derogations.
In 2023, following legal action by PAN Europe, the EU Court of Justice clarified [4] that providing derogations to the use of pesticides that were banned in the EU for environmental and health reasons is not in line with EU law. Since then, four series of derogations were granted by the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture for the use of neonicotinoid-treated seeds, despite the ban on these substances for bee-attractive crops in 2013. Sunflower and maize, two bee-attractive crops, would have been sawn this spring with imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, two toxic insecticides, harming pollinators and beekeepers' business.
On 18 March 2025, the Court of Appeal of Cluj suspended the derogations, as they do not comply with EU pesticide legislation, and with the 2023 EU Court ruling. The decision is enforceable immediately and the marketing and use of neonicotinoid-treated seeds is illegal. Eco Ruralis and Romapis informed all relevant control bodies [5] and beyond, about the obligation of implementing the court decision, asking for the removal from the market and from stocks, of all targeted neonicotinoids.
Constantin Dobrescu, vice-president of Romapis, the Romanian Federation of Beekeeping Associations said: "This decision marks the end of a disastrous policy that seriously affected the beekeeping sector in Romania and the entry into a normality that is found throughout the rest of the EU."
Ramona Duminicioiu, president of the peasant's association Eco Ruralis Association added: "It is a clear signal that agriculture must evolve towards sustainable practices. The Ministry of Agriculture must stop its policy of illegal derogations that favour the interests of a minority of industrial farmers and the destruction of biodiversity."
Martin Dermine, PAN Europe executive director added: "Romapis and PAN Europe already sent a series of letters [6] to the European Commission, highlighting the fact that the Romanian government was not respecting the 2023 ruling, and asking to launch an infringement procedure. The European Commission systematically refused and NGOs had to substitute the role of the Commission."
Martin Dermine to conclude: "While this is excellent news for the environment and public health in Romania, the Commission has still not updated its Guidance Document on derogations, already 2 years after the Court ruling. It is more than time that the Commission ensures proper respect for rules on pesticides by Member States. In the meantime, a series of Member States continue granting derogations to highly toxic EU-banned pesticides such as diquat, leaving citizens and the environment unprotected."
Contact:
- Martin Dermine, PAN Europe, martin [at] pan-europe.info, +32 486 32 99 92
- Ramona Duminicioiu, Eco Ruralis, ramona [at] ecoruralis.ro, +40 746 337 022
- Constantin Dobrescu, Romapis, office.romapis [at] gmail.com, +40 744 823 628
Notes:
[1] Every 20-30 March, when pesticide spraying resumes, NGOs remind of the importance of phasing out toxic synthetic pesticides. See PAN Europe's event from 19 March 12h on contamination of water with PFAS pesticides.
[2] See case 34/35/2025 at https://www.curteadeapelcluj.ro/index.php/dosare/info-dosar.html
[3] https://www.ecoruralis.ro/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cruiser_350_fs_2025...
https://www.ecoruralis.ro/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/nuprid_al_600_fs_20...
https://www.ecoruralis.ro/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/picus_600_fs_2025.pdf
[4] https://www.pan-europe.info/blog/groundbreaking-eu-court-ruling-should-s...
[5] https://www.ecoruralis.ro/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Implementation-of-t...
[6] E.g. January 2024 Letter to the European Commission on Romanian neonicotinoids derogations
