Imidacloprid (some of the trade names are Winner, Advantage and Gaucho) is a neonicotinoid insecticide (type of pesticide) widely used on a number of major agricultural
crops since 1986. France, Italy,
Slovenia and Germany have banned it's use on certain crops because of health
risks to bees (Neonicotinoid effect on European Bees):
In France, beekeepers reported a significant loss of honeybees in the 1990s, which they attributed to the use
of imidacloprid (Gaucho). See Imidacloprid effects on bee population. In response to this loss of bees called "mad bee disease,"
the French Minister of Agriculture convened a panel of expert scientists
(Comite Scientifique et Technique) to examine the impact of imidacloprid on
bees. After reviewing dozens of laboratory and field studies conducted by Bayer
CropScience and by independent scientists, the panel concluded that there was a
significant risk to bees from exposure to imidacloprid on sunflowers and maize
(corn), the only crops for which they had exposure data. Following the release
of this report, the French Agricultural Ministry suspended the use of
imidacloprid on maize and sunflowers. Italy, Germany,
and Slovenia have
also suspended certain uses of the neonicotinoids based on concerns for bees. To see studies done on the impact of neonicotinoid insecticides go to "The Impact of neonicotinoid insecticides on bumble bees, honey bees and other non-target invertebrates".
This week Bayer, the
major producer of Imidacloprid voluntarily removed Almond trees from their
suggested use label. The EPA
(Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S.) is reviewing this. There are over 800,000 acres of almonds in
California alone which are pollinated 100% by bees (the major seasonal crop for
professional pollination companies).
This is great news for the billions of honey bees employed each year in
the almond pollination industry. This
article by Kim Flottum :
Imidacloprid On
Almonds May Be History
Early this morning Bee Culture received a call from Steve Ellis,
a member of the Honey Bee Advisory Board…the group of dedicated beekeepers
working to make beekeeping a safer place by making pesticide
businesses…farmers, applicators, sellers, manufacturers, researchers…more aware
of the incredible damage their products can do to honey bees and pollinators.
The Honey Bee
Advisory Board is in Washington D. C. this week, meeting with, among others,
representatives of the EPA and Bayer CropScience. During the discussions it
became apparent that Bayer was voluntarily removing almond trees from the label
of their imidacloprid products.
Our call this
morning was to inform us, and now you, that EPA is reviewing this request. Yes,
reviewing. It seems that crops are so seldom removed from a label, especially
by voluntary request, that the internal engine at EPA isn’t quite sure how to
make that happen. So they are reviewing it.
Mr. Ellis was quite
sure the review process would be swift and action taken very soon. Hopefully
before it is to be used on almonds during the coming season, thus saving
billions of honey bees from the opportunity of exposure to this chemical. Members of the Honey
Bee Advisory Board are all volunteers, not supported by any National or
Regional beekeeping organization. They are to be commended for their ongoing
pursuit of a better, safer life for honey bees, beekeepers, and all
pollinators.
 |
| Pesticides are carried away by wind, evaporation, leaching and runoff |
Imidacloprid is not
banned or even restricted for use in Canada and is also used for pet flea
treatments. It is obviously toxic to
beneficial insects like bees, earthworms and ladybugs and causes reduced egg
production in birds (http://www.sierraclub.ca/national/programs/health-environment/pesticides/imidacloprid-fact-sheet.shtml). To view studies on the effects of pesticides on honey bees go to Pesticides and Honey Bees.
The effects of today's systemic pesticides on bees.
Another neonicotinoid pesticide produced by Bayer is Clothianidin which like Imidacloprid is toxic to bees and it's use has been suspended by Germany. The film below outlines the inability of the current system (EPA and corporate testing) to properly identify the safety of insecticides.
Beekkeeper Leaks EPA Document from Bee The Change on Vimeo.
The video below is further evidence of the agricultural industry using agrochemicals irresponsibly with total disregard for safety or suffering. Productivity and profit are the singular motivation. Endosulfan is an insecticide that was brought to the market in 1954 by Bayer CropScience and approved by the USDA. Although the toxic effects on the environment and humans has been known for years it wasn't until the year 2000 that home and garden use was terminated in the United States. In 2002 the EPA determined that endosulfan residues on food and in water pose unacceptable risks and so restricted but did not ban agricultural use. In 2007 the Canadian government announced that endosulfan was under consideration for phase-out. From 2007-2010 international steps were taken to restrict the use and trade of endosulfan but it wasn't until 2011 that the EPA announced that the registration of endosulfan in the U.S. will be cancelled. Although in most parts of the world endosulfan is banned it is still being produced and utilized in reduced quantities.
A few good sites to check regarding information on insecticides are: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/ ;
The pesticide action network: http://www.panna.org/ ;The Permanent People's Tribunal http://www.agricorporateaccountability.net/ ; Coalition Against Bayer Dangers http://www.cbgnetwork.org/328.html
*To view further studies on the effects of insecticides on bees go to Insecticides and Bees in our Beekeepers' Library.
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