After waiting nearly five years for the Environmental Protection Agency to respond to a petition calling for the closing of a regulatory loophole which has proven deadly for honey bee colonies—spelling disaster for farmers’ crops, food security, and biodiversity—two advocacy groups are suing the agency and demanding officials take immediate action to end the use of harmful pesticides known as neonics.
Joined by Pesticide Action Network (PAN) North America, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) filed the lawsuit saying the petition it sent to the EPA in April 2017 regarding the continued use of neonics, or neonicotinoids, provided “the legal blueprint to solve this problem and the legal impetus to do it.”
“Science has shown that coating seeds with pesticides is not only ineffective, but can cause real harm to pollinators, workers, and farmers.”
“While EPA fiddles, grave harm to bees and other pollinators continues,” George Kimbrell, CFS legal director […]
Honey is a very valuable, natural food, which stores for years. It never spoils, unless water touches it, which will be cause for it to ferment.
If it crystallizes, it will retain its liquid form when warmed. It cannot carry any bacteria except for botulism, which is only harmful for infants. It can be used in hundreds of unbelievable ways, and it’s history goes back thousands of years. Most importantly, it is key to our eco-system. We need to take very strong measures,I to ensure the life of honey, and protect its producers (bees)
Is suspect this may be related to state regulations. Just found this: https://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2021/12/court-steps-in-to-stop-pesticide-use-not-adequately-regulated-bees-protected/
in essence, the push for change needs to begin at the state and local levels.
I suspect the shift needs to begin at the local level (state by state). What I’ve heard from organic farmers in WA state is that they may not be using harmful pesticides on their crops, but if someone close by is spraying and it’s windy, they’re affected.
Sam, that’s also a very good point at a state level.
The EPA has allowed agricultural companies to coat seeds with the pesticides without requiring adherence to registration requirements under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
“To continue this unlawful exemption would be severely detrimental,” wrote the CFS in its petition in 2017.
I’m extremely glad the CFS filed a petition against the EPA, for ignoring registration requirements under the FIFRA.
A case of corruption, plain and simple. What is really important is that it demonstrates to us how our institutions work or do not work and for whom. Note the difference between our regulatory bodies and those of Europe.