EU Steps Up for Bees and U.S. Backtracks | Civil Eats

EU Steps Up for Bees and U.S. Backtracks

honey-bee-lavenderLast week, the European Commission announced its position against the use of bee-harming neonicotinoid insecticides, urging nations within the European Union (EU) to impose a two-year suspension on their use. Great news for bees across the pond.

But here in the U.S., policymakers aren’t stepping up. EPA officials are continuing to ignore the emerging body of science that point to pesticides, and especially neonicotinoid insecticides, as a critical factor in bee declines. What’s worse, the agency is poised to approve yet another bee-harming pesticide.

Beekeepers are especially frustrated. As commercial beekeeper Steve Ellis told me last week:

Europe’s decision should be a wake up call for EPA. The agency has a responsibility to protect bees and the livelihood of beekeepers. Unless the agency takes steps to protect pollinators, they are putting agricultural economies and the food system at risk.

The case for greater bee protections has been building in Europe. Several recent reports, including one from the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), indicate that three neonicotinoid insecticides — imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam, produced by Switzerland’s Syngenta and Germany’s Bayer—pose an unacceptable hazard to honey bees.

Additionally, EFSA found that the industry-sponsored science — upon which regulatory agencies’ claim of safety have relied — are fatally flawed.

And yet EPA is still seemingly reluctant put protections in place for bees. Attempting to spur action, Pesticide Action Network, Center for Food Safety and Beyond Pesticides — along with over 25 beekeepers — filed an emergency legal petition with EPA last year, seeking an immediate halt to the use of clothianidin until adequate studies have been completed and safeguards put in place.

The agency denied the petition and is moving forward with a much slower process, continuing with its current review of the neonic — set to conclude in 2018.

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Bad news from EPA

As if bees and beekeepers didn’t face enough challenges, EPA is now poised to add another systemic pesticide into the mix. Dow’s sulfoxaflor is a cousin of neonicotinoids, and impacts the same bee brain synapses (nicotinic acetylcholine receptors). It’s yet another systemic pesticide that would be used on a wide variety of crops like canola, cotton, citrus and vegetables.

Beekeepers are warning that this may be the worst year yet for bee losses. This is saying something, since they’ve reported losses of about 30% since 2006. Bad news for beekeepers, and bad news for crops like almonds that are reliant on bees for pollination. Earlier today, Jeff Anderson, another beekeeper — whose bees pollinate crops in California and Minnesota — put the situation he’s facing in stark terms:

“My operation started last spring with a high count of 3150 hives, today I have 992 alive, most in severely weakened condition.”

Pesticides are one of several factors — along with pathogens and nutrition — working together to threaten bee populations. But these pesticides are a known harm EPA can take steps to reduce. It is long past time the agency moves to protect bees, rather than introducing yet another bee-toxic pesticide onto the market.

Take action » Urge EPA to stand up for bees and beekeepers and keep a new bee-harming pesticide off the market. The public comment period closes February 12 – now is the time to reduce known harms instead of introducing new threats!

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Paul Towers is the Organizing & Media Director at Pesticide Action Network North America. Read more >

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Join the conversation.

  1. Suzie_B
    I imagine the pesticide companies have more money for lobbyists than the beekeepers. In the USA, it is all about money! Darn shame out government can't ever do the right thing!
  2. I want to know WHY isn't the EPA more concerned about the disappearance of bees in the U.S.?? Facinating story, thank you.
  3. Kenneth Bare
    Last year I lost all my Bees, and had to start over. Honey has helped farmers and orchard owners for many years, please stop the use of pesticides that are distroying our natural polinators.
  4. Robin Freeman
    The EPA is an organization to protect not only the enviroment, but the world as a whole.
  5. Susan Schaeffer
    STOP the use of bee-harming Neonicotinoid insecticides in the US . The science is there - bee populations are CRUCIAL to the US Food supply and the environment in general . Without healthy populations of bees - the very web of life is broken . Don't wait until it is too late !! Act now and ban these harmful chemicals !
  6. Janice Koenig
    This is not something that can be swept under the rug. Please follow the European initiatives and take seriously the threat to the world bee population. How can you not see the obvious interconnectedness of all species? Take action!!!
  7. Dava
    Do you have a link for us to get the necessary information to call, send letters or email to? I am a trucker and have a tough time doing the research while on the road. Thanks.
  8. Zak heintzelman
    EPA, why are you destroying the future. I'm a 24 year old beekeeper hoping to go commercial. Looking ahead the possibility of keeping bees alive is already going to be hard enough without additional hazards. How is the us not a leader in understanding of these hazardous materials. Yet another category the USA is falling behind in. Please for us and the bees fix this problem.
  9. How Hard is it to understand that without pollination, all the pesticides in the world want help your yield?

    I agree with Suzie B, its all about the $$$

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