For Immediate Release: August 15, 2013
Contact: Paul Towers, 916-216-1082, ptowers@panna.org
New bee labels not protective enough
In response to EPA's announcement of new labels meant to protect bees from pesticides, Paul Towers, spokesperson for Pesticide Action Network, released the following statement:
"While it's good to see movement from the EPA, the new labels do little to address the problem of bee declines. EPA's labels fail to acknowledge the unique properties of systemic, persistent neonicotinoid pesticides and are practically unenforceable. As U.S. agriculture faces one of the worst years on record for honey bee declines, EPA's efforts will only make matters worse by giving a false sense of acceptability for the use of these bee-harming products. EPA should instead act on the growing body of scientific evidence and further restrict the use of neonicotinoids, especially as seed treatments."
