The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has tightened its guidance on authorising the emergency use of banned pesticides. It will apply to all pesticides including neonicotinoids, which destroy bees’ nervous systems and are banned in Europe. In recent years, sugar beet farmers in the UK have received special permission to use neonicotinoids to fight disease. But ministers committed to ending the use of banned neonicotinoids in England and earlier this year denied an emergency authorisation application for the use of neonicotinoid Cruiser SB for the 2025 sugar beet crop. The changes to the emergency authorisation guidance have been made in co-operation with all devolved governments in the UK.