ALL is not sweet as honey in the beekeeping world.

Scotland's apiarists are split over the use of nicotine-based pesticides, which some blame for the decline in bee numbers.

It follows the failure last week of a European attempt to stop the use of neonicotinoids.

Countries, including the UK and Germany, did not back the plan from the European Commission to impose a two-year ban after the European Food Safety Authority raised concerns.

Now the Scottish Beekeepers Association (SBA) has been criticised for failing to pass a motion at its annual meeting calling for it to petition the Scottish Government to invoke a moratorium on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides in this country.

The vote was taken on March 16, the day after the EU decision, and was close – 31 for, 34 against, with five abstentions.

Clare Darlaston, a beekeeper from Glasgow, has circulated an open letter saying the decision was tantamount to endorsement for neonicotinoids "from the organisation that claims to champion bees and to campaign tirelessly for bee health".

She claimed the drug companies would be happy at the result because the SBA represents the interests of bees to the Scottish Government and various European bodies.

Ms Darlaston added: "I can imagine drug companies using this information to good effect in their arguments against restrictions, pointing out that Scottish beekeepers – many of whom depend on oil-seed rape [which is treated with neonicotinoids] for a good honey crop – see no need to restrict or limit them in any way.

"Some beekeepers will find it ironic that – whereas nearly all the conservation organisations and even some producers are calling for, or putting into effect themselves, at least a partial ban or a moratorium – Scotland's main beekeeping association continues to claim there is no adequate proof that neonicotinoids are harmful to bees."

But Phil McAnespie, the Ayr-based SBA president, sees things differently. He said there were about 1560 voting members in the association, so "the representative vote from 70 members present was very small".

He said the subject of neonicotinoids was very emotive and of concern to all beekeeping associations, adding there had been many scientific reports with conflicting results and views.

Mr McAnespie said: "The UK Government has commissioned research on this subject and is awaiting the final reports.

"Professor Ian Boyd [chief scientific advisor to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] appears to be unequivocal in his view there is no evidence in the UK, at present, of harm to the honeybee by neonicotinoids.

"He further saw no compelling evidence from European reports to support the proposed restrictions.

"As a consequence, at the recent EU discussion with all member states, the UK among other states voted to the effect there was no qualified majority decision either way. It is envisaged a further discussion may take place in late April."

He said there was no SBA endorsement of any chemicals used in agriculture.

He said: "As a national association, we have no links with these [drug] companies and do not seek support or sponsorship from them."