For Immediate Release
November 13, 2015
Contact: Paul Towers, 916-216-1082, [email protected]
Earlier today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the agency would cancel the registration of Dow’s sulfoxaflor — effectively banning the insecticide. Sulfoxaflor is a close cousin to neonicotinoids, which are known to pose a serious threat to the health of bees and other pollinators.
Today’s announcement comes just a few months after commercial beekeepers raised serious legal concerns about sulfoxaflor — and the courts ruled EPA had relied on “flawed and limited data” to approve the registration of sulfoxaflor, citing the “precariousness of bee populations.”
Paul Towers, spokesperson for Pesticide Action Network, released the following statement:
“EPA’s decision to ban sulfoxaflor is good news for bees, beekeepers and for everyone who enjoys many of the fruits, vegetables and nuts grown in the U.S. Despite strong opposition from beekeepers and the scientific community, the agency relied on flawed and limited information and rushed to approve Dow’s pesticide. EPA should follow the science on other bee-toxic pesticides, including neonicotinoids, and work to phase them out — while ensuring other harmful pesticides aren’t rushed to market.”
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