June 3, 2015
www.gfb.org
Vol. 33 No. 22
EPA PROPOSES PESTICIDE LABEL RESTRICTIONS TO PROTECT POLLINATORS On May 29 the EPA published a proposed rule that would prohibit foliar application of pesticides that are acutely toxic to bees on fields where bee colonies are under contract for pollination services. The EPA is also making a proposal to rely on efforts made by states and tribes to reduce pesticide exposures through development of locally-based measures, specifically through managed pollinator protection plans. The proposed rule was developed at the president’s direction in response to ongoing declines in populations of honeybees and monarch butterflies. In its annual survey of colony losses, the Bee Informed Partnership indicated that beekeepers lost 42.1 percent of their managed honeybee colonies from April 2014 to April 2015. In June 2014, President Obama established the Pollinator Health Task Force, co-chaired by the EPA and the USDA, to examine challenges facing both managed pollinators, such as commercial honeybee operations, and native pollinators, such as Monarch butterflies. The task force report, released on May 19, establishes three primary goals, which include reducing overwintering losses for honeybees; increasing the population of Monarch butterflies and increased habitat for pollinators on federal lands. According to an EPA fact sheet, the proposed restrictions would apply to all pesticide products that have liquid or dust formulations as applied, are used through application to crop leaves (referred to as foliar use) and that have active ingredients that have been determined to have high toxicity for bees. As a part of the proposed rule the EPA has included a list of 76 registered active ingredients that meet the acute toxicity criteria. The American Farm Bureau Federation is reviewing the proposed rule and has yet to take a stance on it. Georgia Farm Bureau policy is to support coexistence of crops and pollinators while urging that pollinator risk assessments used for registration or regulation of crop-protection products be based on field-relevant, sound scientific data. GFB is currently working with the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences and the Georgia Department of Agriculture to develop a state pollinator plan for Georgia. The EPA is seeking public comment on the proposed rule. The deadline to make comments is June 29. To view the proposed rule and associated documents or submit a comment, visit http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0818.