By Paula Andrés | EURACTIV.com 19-01-2023 (updated: 20-01-2023 ) On Thursday, (19 December) the European Court of Justice (ECJ) confirmed that Member States are not allowed to derogate from the use of seeds treated with ‘expressly banned’ plant protection products by EU law.EU Court backs Commission's ban on controversial neonicotinoid pesticides The EU’s highest court has ruled that the European Commission was entitled to restrict the use of three neonicotinoid pesticides linked with bee decline after an attempt to overturn the decision from the agrochemical company Bayer.For this reason, the Court concluded that “as regards seeds treated with plant protection products containing substances expressly prohibited, […] the [EU] legislature did not intend to allow member states to derogate from such an express prohibition.” In addition, the ruling stressed, “the obligation of all member states to take all necessary measures to promote low pesticide input pest control, giving priority to non-chemical methods wherever possible.” Campaigners welcome ‘relieving’ ruling The campaign groups that requested the annulment of the derogations celebrated the success of this ‘landmark ruling’, highlighting the EU-wide effect of the court’s verdict.Likewise, Marc Fichers, secretary general of Nature & Progrès Belgium, added that “this success will have an EU-wide effect” and that this ‘relieving’ ruling “shows the environment counts more than profits from some sugar and pesticide companies”.EU loopholes give free pass to toxic banned pesticides Banned pesticides deemed toxic to humans and environmental health are still consistently in use in the EU thanks to the routine use of emergency derogations, a new report has found."