Archives – December, 2017
Editor’s Note: A highly publicized study asserted that much of the world’s honey is contaminated with neonicotinoids including New Zealand’s mānuka honey despite (1) the honey is gathered in remote locations far from pesticide use and (2) repeated testings of mānuka honey by the New Zealand government have not shown the presence of neonicotinoids.
From: Farmers Guardian
Bayer hits back at pollution allegations after neonicotinoids detected in rivers
Abi Kay
Bayer Crop Science has hit back at intensified calls for a full ban on neonicotinoids after traces of the chemicals were detected in rivers across the UK.
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December 29, 2017
From: Pest Control Technology
The Agency plans to release the final pollinator risk assessments and proposed interim decisions for four neonicotinoid insecticides in mid-2018.
Edited by Brad Harbison
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing preliminary ecological and human health risk assessments for these neonicotinoid insecticides — clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and dinotefuran — and a preliminary ecological risk assessment for imidacloprid, assessing risks to birds, mammals, non-target insects, and plants. Preliminary pollinator-only risk assessments for these chemicals were published for comment in 2016 and 2017, and preliminary human health and ecological assessments (for aquatic species only) for imidacloprid were also released in 2017.
December 28, 2017
From: Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry | Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Thiamethoxam honey bee colony feeding study: Linking effects at the level of the individual to those at the colony level
Jay Overmyer, Max Feken, Natalie Ruddle, Sigrun Bocksch, Marcus Hill, Helen Thompson
December 27, 2017
From: CBC News
New limits, but no all-out ban on pesticides that harm bee population
Health Canada says use of pesticides under new rules will not pose “unacceptable risk” to bees
By Kathleen Harris, Susan Lunn, CBC News
The federal government has proposed tighter restrictions around two insecticides that are harmful to bees, but stopped short of an all-out ban.
Health Canada announced new mitigation measures today on the neonicotinoids clothianidin and thiamethoxam, pesticides which are sold as seed treatment or sprays to protect agricultural crops from various insects.
Read Complete Article
December 26, 2017
From: Randy Oliver’s Scientific Beekeeping Newsletter
Randy Oliver
Hi All,
Happy Holidays and Winter Solstice
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Varroa invaded the U.S. thirty years ago, and we should all be embarrassed that it is still such a problem. Even worse, the commercial bee industry is facing the inevitable failure of amitraz, which I fear is going to necessitate some serious changes in our industry.
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December 22, 2017
From: The Huffington Post (UK)
The Comeback Kid: How Michael Gove Is Saving The Tories
He’s gone from zero to hero in six months.
Owen Bennett
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The Government had just announced its intention to ban neonicotinoids – the pesticide linked to a decline in the bee population – and while environmentalists cheered Gove’s decision, farmers fear it could lead to failing crops, a message emotionally conveyed to Dorries.
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Trusting Michael Gove? That’s a risky business, as anyone involved in Boris Johnson’s campaign to succeed David Cameron as Prime Minister will attest.
December 21, 2017
From: The Guardian
Gove: UK would not compromise with US on food standards
Environment secretary sets up possible clash in future US trade talks over retaining EU regulations post-Brexit
Lisa O’Carroll Brexit correspondent
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He also expressed concern about antibiotics used in livestock, and bee-harming pesticides, neonicotinoids, used on grain that goes into breakfast cereals and other consumer foods.
This could set Britain on a collision course with the US commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, who said in November that changing EU regulations would form a “critical component of any trade discussion” with the UK.
Read Complete Article
December 20, 2017
Editor’s Note: CRE filed a Data Quality Alert with EPA in response to its analysis of the economic benefits neonicotinoid-treated soybean seeds. EPA’s Response to Public Comments discusses CRE’s Data Quality Alert and states that the agency “appreciates the opportunity to clarify and correct the assessment.” EPA’s Biological and Economic Analysis Division now estimates that “the total benefits of neonicotinoid [soybean] seed treatments nationally to be up to $215 million per year.”
From: Inside EPA via Genetic Literacy Project
EPA reverses course, says neonicotinoid insecticides benefit soybeans, other crops
Dave Reynolds
December 19, 2017
From: Pest Control Technology
The Agency plans to release the final pollinator risk assessments and proposed interim decisions for four neonicotinoid insecticides in mid-2018.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing preliminary ecological and human health risk assessments for these neonicotinoid insecticides — clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and dinotefuran — and a preliminary ecological risk assessment for imidacloprid, assessing risks to birds, mammals, non-target insects, and plants. Preliminary pollinator-only risk assessments for these chemicals were published for comment in 2016 and 2017, and preliminary human health and ecological assessments (for aquatic species only) for imidacloprid were also released in 2017.
December 18, 2017
From: FarmingUK
EU delays blanket ban decision on neonicotinoids
The European Commission has delayed a vote on the banning of three neonicotinoids to include all outdoor crops.
Member states met at the European Commission on 12-13 December to propose an extension of the ban to all outdoor crops.
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The Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (Scopaff) discussed proposals to set out a blanket ban, but no vote was taken. The issue is expected to be on the agenda again in early 2018.
Read Complete Article
December 15, 2017
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