A blockbuster study released last week by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), has for the first time labeled the pesticide clothianidin as an "unacceptable" danger to bees.1
Scientists have long thought that clothianidin is at least partially to blame for the alarming rate that bees have been dying off in the U.S. - nearly 30% of our bee population, per year, has been lost to so-called colony collapse since 2006.2
But the EPA has repeatedly ignored scientists' warnings and Americans' urgings to ban its use, citing lack of evidence.
Now, the EFSA study could be a major breakthrough to convince the EPA to take emergency action, and suspend the use of clothianidin to stop the precipitous decline in global honeybee populations.
Tell the EPA: Immediately suspend the pesticide that's killing bees!
In addition to finding clothianidin too dangerous to use on plants pollinated by bees, EFSA's study specifically identifies as too flawed to be useful the shoddy studies provided by pesticide manufacturer Bayer as evidence of clothianidin's safety. 3
It was these sham studies that EPA used to first approve clothianidin in 2003, even against the objections of EPA's own scientists.4
The pesticide, which is used to treat seeds like corn and canola, expresses itself through the plants' pollen and nectar -- the honeybee's favorite sources of food. Clothianidin is in a class of pesticides called neonicotinoids, which are relatively new, and their use coincides with the rise of colony collapse.
If EPA does not take emergency action now, it won't review clothianidin again until 2018.
Given the rate of colony collapse, and the indispensable role that pollinators play in our food system -- pollinating one-third of our food crops and providing literally billions of dollars in economic benefit -- it would be stunningly irresponsible of EPA to continue allowing the use of this dangerous pesticide for at least another five years.
Sign the petition urging EPA to take immediate action now!
1. "Pesticides and Honey Bees: State of the Science," Pesticide Action Network North America
2. " Insecticide 'unacceptable' danger to bees, report finds," Guardian, 1/16/13
3. "European Agency concludes neonicotinoid pesticides too dangerous for bees," NRDC, 1/16/13
4. "Leaked document shows EPA allowed bee-toxic pesticide despite own scientists' red flags," Grist, 12/10/10
https://act.credoaction.com/campaign/efsa_...
Posted By: Steve Williams
Thursday, January 31st 2013 at 4:31AM
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