The shadow environment secretary has said Labor will end exemptions for bee-killing pesticides, which are banned in the EU but have been approved by the UK government for four years running.

This week, the government authorized the use of thiamethoxam, also known as Cruiser SB, on sugar beet crops, against the advice of scientists who said it posed a risk to bees.

Professor Dave Goulson, a bee expert at the University of Sussex, warned that one teaspoon of the chemical could be enough to kill 1.25 billion bees.

Former environment secretary Michael Gove pledged in 2017 that ministers would use Brexit to stop the use of the pesticide, which is destroying bee populations. Instead, the EU banned emergency authorization of all neonicotinoid pesticides, while the UK government has allowed emergency use of thiomethasam every year since 2021.

The government allows growers to treat seeds with chemicals if weather conditions allow the disease virus to turn yellow. Activists have long demanded an end to this situation.

Shadow agriculture minister Daniel Zeichner told the Guardian that “it’s time to follow the science and stop using neonicotinoids” and that Labor would end emergency use of the pesticides. The policy has been submitted for inclusion in the party’s election manifesto. As deputy chairman of the Cambridgeshire Beekeepers Association, the Cambridge councilor has been campaigning on the issue for many years.

Wildlife groups welcomed the news. Craig Macadam, Buglife’s director of conservation, said: “The continued presence of ecologically damaging toxins in our environment is seriously hampering efforts to halt biodiversity loss and restore nature. The next government must maintain the new Ban on alkali pesticides and work to reduce pesticide use.

“Labour’s commitment today to prevent the use of emergency derogation measures for neonicotinoid pesticides is a positive step for the environment and will protect bees, pollinators and aquatic life. We encourage other parties to propose similar policies to Reduce reliance on chemicals in food production.”

Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Links, added: “When you have to re-ban a banned pesticide, things happen, but Labor has sent an important signal today that it Won’t give in to industry pressure at the expense of pesticides.” Wildlife and nature-friendly farming.

“With the multiple reauthorizations of Cruiser SB, the administration has revealed a mindset that environmental protection is optional.”

A Defra spokesman said the pesticide would be “strictly controlled”, adding: “This decision was not taken lightly and now that the threshold for use of the product has been passed, it will be subject to strict restrictions to mitigate risks to the environment, including Potential risk to pollinators.”