Environmental hazardous EU banned pesticides found in spring bulbs

Stockholm – Bulbs from tulips, crocuses, and daffodils sold in Sweden contain environmentally harmful pesticides that are banned within the EU, a review by the environmental organization Naturskyddsföreningen shows.

Both conventionally and organically grown bulbs, all from the Netherlands, have been purchased and examined.

The best for the environment were the organic bulbs, where only one of the examined contained a pesticide. 19 of the 21 conventionally grown bulbs contained residues of at least one pesticide, and eight of them contained pesticides that are banned within the EU.

The worst were the tulip bulbs – four out of seven contained banned pesticides.

Additionally, nine of the conventionally grown bulbs contained at least one PFAS pesticide, and 13 of them contained at least one substance that can, or is suspected to, cause cancer, harm unborn children, or affect fertility.

The presence of pesticides in the bulbs indicates that they were used during cultivation. Naturskyddsföreningen is now urging the gardening industry to tighten controls.

(April 10)