OBA Asks PMRA to Take Action To End the Widespread Use of Neonics on Field Crops & Requests Immediate, Independent Review of PMRA’s Decision-Making Process, Methods & Policies for Pesticide Approvals.

Dear Ministers Taylor and MacAulay, 

We write on behalf of the health of bees, beekeepers and the beekeeping industry of Ontario and Québec. We object to PMRA’s refusal to take action to end the widespread use of neonicotinoid pesticides on field crops.

Beekeepers managing honey bee colonies in Canada’s corn, soy and canola growing regions continue to experience unsustainable colony losses, queen failures, record low honey production and unsustainable costs associated with the replacement of colonies and queens.

The association of these losses to the agricultural use of neonicotinoid pesticides applied as seed treatments on corn and soy and other field crops was confirmed by PMRA in 2013.

In 2014, Ontario passed legislation to curtail the widespread use of neonicotinoid seed treatments on corn and soy. On February 26 of this year, Québec announced new restrictions on neonicotinoids and other pesticides considered harmful to honey bees.

The evidence of the harmful effects of neonicotinoids on honey bees and wild bees is overwhelming…

View Full Letter here.