New Pesticide Labels Will Better Protect Bees
and Other Pollinators
WASHINGTON – In
an ongoing effort to protect bees and other pollinators, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has developed new pesticide labels that prohibit use of
some neonicotinoid pesticide products where bees are present.
“Multiple factors play a role
in bee colony declines, including pesticides. The Environmental Protection
Agency is taking action to protect bees from pesticide exposure and these label
changes will further our efforts,” said Jim Jones, assistant administrator for
the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
The new labels will have a bee
advisory box and icon with information on routes of exposure and spray drift
precautions. Today’s announcement affects products containing the
neonicotinoids imidacloprid, dinotefuran, clothianidin and thiamethoxam. The
EPA will work with pesticide manufacturers to change labels so that they will
meet the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) safety
standard.
In May, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and EPA released a comprehensive scientific report on honey
bee health, showing scientific consensus that there are a complex set of
stressors associated with honey bee declines, including loss of habitat,
parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure.
The agency continues to work
with beekeepers, growers, pesticide applicators, pesticide and seed companies,
and federal and state agencies to reduce pesticide drift dust and advance best
management practices. The EPA recently released new enforcement guidance to
federal, state and tribal enforcement officials to enhance investigations of
beekill incidents.
More on the EPA’s label changes
and pollinator protection efforts: http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/ecosystem/pollinator/index.html
View the infographic on EPA’s new bee advisory box: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ecosystem/pollinator/bee-label-info-graphic.pdf
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