'Incredible News for Bees': Court Rejects EPA Pesticide Approval
Neonicotinoid known as sulfoxaflor may not be used in the U.S. until EPA obtains necessary scientific research
A federal appeals court on Thursday overturned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) approval of a controversial pesticide, saying the agency violated federal law by giving a green light without obtaining or reviewing reliable studies on the neonicotinoid's impact on honeybees.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal's ruling (pdf) in the case, which was brought by environmental law firm Earthjustice, means that the pesticide in question--a neonicotinoid known as sulfoxaflor--may not be used in the U.S. unless the EPA re-approves it after obtaining the necessary analysis of its effects on pollinators.
Other neonicotinoids, such as clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, have been linked to population declines among honeybees, bumblebees, and other insects, which environmental activists say threatens food security.
"Our country is facing widespread bee colony collapse, and scientists are pointing to pesticides like sulfoxaflar as the cause," Greg Loarie, Earthjustice's lead counsel in the case, said Thursday. "The Court's decision to overturn approval of this bee-killing pesticide is incredible news for bees, beekeepers, and all of us who enjoy the healthy fruits, nuts, and vegetables that rely on bees for pollination."
Earthjustice brought the case on behalf of the environmental nonprofits Center for Food Safety, the Pesticide Action Network, and Beyond Pesticides. It also represented a coalition of groups including the Pollinator Stewardship Council and National Honeybee Advisory Board, among others.
Michele Colopy, program director of the Pollinator Stewardship Council, said on Thursday that the EPA's "decision process to unconditionally register Sulfoxaflor was based on flawed and limited data.... We can protect crops from pests and protect honey bees and native pollinators."
"To do this EPA's pesticide application and review process must receive substantial scientific evidence as to the benefits of a pesticide, as well as the protection of the environment, especially the protection of pollinators," Colopy said.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
A federal appeals court on Thursday overturned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) approval of a controversial pesticide, saying the agency violated federal law by giving a green light without obtaining or reviewing reliable studies on the neonicotinoid's impact on honeybees.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal's ruling (pdf) in the case, which was brought by environmental law firm Earthjustice, means that the pesticide in question--a neonicotinoid known as sulfoxaflor--may not be used in the U.S. unless the EPA re-approves it after obtaining the necessary analysis of its effects on pollinators.
Other neonicotinoids, such as clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, have been linked to population declines among honeybees, bumblebees, and other insects, which environmental activists say threatens food security.
"Our country is facing widespread bee colony collapse, and scientists are pointing to pesticides like sulfoxaflar as the cause," Greg Loarie, Earthjustice's lead counsel in the case, said Thursday. "The Court's decision to overturn approval of this bee-killing pesticide is incredible news for bees, beekeepers, and all of us who enjoy the healthy fruits, nuts, and vegetables that rely on bees for pollination."
Earthjustice brought the case on behalf of the environmental nonprofits Center for Food Safety, the Pesticide Action Network, and Beyond Pesticides. It also represented a coalition of groups including the Pollinator Stewardship Council and National Honeybee Advisory Board, among others.
Michele Colopy, program director of the Pollinator Stewardship Council, said on Thursday that the EPA's "decision process to unconditionally register Sulfoxaflor was based on flawed and limited data.... We can protect crops from pests and protect honey bees and native pollinators."
"To do this EPA's pesticide application and review process must receive substantial scientific evidence as to the benefits of a pesticide, as well as the protection of the environment, especially the protection of pollinators," Colopy said.
A federal appeals court on Thursday overturned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) approval of a controversial pesticide, saying the agency violated federal law by giving a green light without obtaining or reviewing reliable studies on the neonicotinoid's impact on honeybees.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal's ruling (pdf) in the case, which was brought by environmental law firm Earthjustice, means that the pesticide in question--a neonicotinoid known as sulfoxaflor--may not be used in the U.S. unless the EPA re-approves it after obtaining the necessary analysis of its effects on pollinators.
Other neonicotinoids, such as clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, have been linked to population declines among honeybees, bumblebees, and other insects, which environmental activists say threatens food security.
"Our country is facing widespread bee colony collapse, and scientists are pointing to pesticides like sulfoxaflar as the cause," Greg Loarie, Earthjustice's lead counsel in the case, said Thursday. "The Court's decision to overturn approval of this bee-killing pesticide is incredible news for bees, beekeepers, and all of us who enjoy the healthy fruits, nuts, and vegetables that rely on bees for pollination."
Earthjustice brought the case on behalf of the environmental nonprofits Center for Food Safety, the Pesticide Action Network, and Beyond Pesticides. It also represented a coalition of groups including the Pollinator Stewardship Council and National Honeybee Advisory Board, among others.
Michele Colopy, program director of the Pollinator Stewardship Council, said on Thursday that the EPA's "decision process to unconditionally register Sulfoxaflor was based on flawed and limited data.... We can protect crops from pests and protect honey bees and native pollinators."
"To do this EPA's pesticide application and review process must receive substantial scientific evidence as to the benefits of a pesticide, as well as the protection of the environment, especially the protection of pollinators," Colopy said.