The Garden Centre Group has confirmed it has banned pesticides containing neonicotinoids - chemicals which the EFSA have labelled harmful to bees - across its 129 stores. Dobbies, too, has also confirmed a ban.
A decision on whether to instigate a Europe-wide ban on the use of neonicotinoids is due to be made by the EU on Friday.

The GCG had previously confirmed that the only product containing the chemicals it currently stocked was Bayer Garden's Provado Lawn Grub Killer. Speaking to Friends of the Earth, who have launched a passionate campaign to ban all neonicotinoid products nationwide, a representative repeated Bayer's own line of defence that if used correctly, the Grub Killer poses no threat to bees.

The country's biggest garden centre chain has since changed its tune, however, releasing a statement on Friday saying: "The Garden Centre Group has removed Provado Lawn Grub Killer from their shelves.

"The Garden Centre Group takes any concerns regarding pesticide damage very seriously. New research is due to be published and the Group will review the results and the actions of the market to ensure they continue to be fully compliant with regulations."

Meanwhile, the UK's second largest garden centre chain, Dobbies, has also confirmed that it has removed "all bug killer containing imidacloprid", one of the neonicotinoids highlighted as dangerous by the EFSA.

When contacted by Friends of the Earth, who recently circulated a letter urging all garden centre managers to pull the products from their shelves, Sainsburys, too, confirmed that none of its pesticide products contain the chemicals in question.

The supermarket stocks seven branded pesticides and recently contacted each supplier to confirm wither their products contained the chemicals. According to Sainsburys, each replied saying that none of their products contained the three neonicotinoids mentioned in the EFSA's investigation (imacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam).