Lawmakers Circulate Letter Urging EPA to Restrict Neonicotinoid Use

from ESA Science Policy News 9-3-14

Lawmakers Circulate Letter Urging EPA to Restrict Neonicotinoid Use
In an effort to build on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recent phase-out of neonicotinoid insecticides in all National Wildlife Refuges by 2016, Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) circulated among House members a letter to be sent to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy urging her to take further action to protect pollinators. The letter outlines several policy recommendations to EPA, including: restricting/suspending the use of neonicotinoids on bee attractive crops; evaluation of pesticides; compliance with Endangered Species Act Section 7 prior to registering pesticides; ensuring pesticide labels are up to date and include bee hazard statements; assessment of pesticides for impacts on pollinators; phase out conditional registrations; rectify discrepancies between garden versus agricultural products; and re-categorize commercial neonicotinoid as restricted use.
Sources and Additional Information:

- The full text of the letter is available at http://www.blumenauer.house.gov/images/pdf/Letter_Urging_the_EPA_to_protect_pollinators.pdf.