EPA awaits honeybee data before approving neonicotinoids

The Environmental Protection Agency recently informed individual registrants of nitroguanidine-based neonicotinoid pesticides in a letter that approval for outdoor usage may be postponed until the agency completes risk assessments for bee safety.

In a continuing effort to protect pollinators, the EPA said it will not be able to approve most applications for new uses of the chemicals imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam and dinotefuran until studies are complete.

In its statement, the agency underscored the importance of data on potential adverse effects on honeybee colonies, particularly developing larvae and pupae. The EPA does not believe it has sufficient information at this time to approve them for outdoor uses under Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) registration standards for the four pesticides.

Actions affected by the wait include new or modified uses, changes to existing patterns, experimental permits and any new local registrations.

The statement, written by Jack Housenger, director of the Office of Pesticide Programs, allowed that individual needs may differ and as such the agency eventually may be able to support uses under certain circumstances on a case-by-case basis. It will handle requests based on currently available data and risk-mitigation strategies.