April 1, 2014
Canadian environmental groups demand scientific studies on pesticide
Four major environmental groups in Canada are demanding that Ottawa force pesticide makers to provide scientific studies on whether their products are killing off bees, an important species for the country''s multi-billion dollar agricultural industry since bees pollinate a wide variety of crops.
Since 2004, Health Canada''s Pest Management Regulatory Agency has been asking registered pesticide manufacturers for the studies. But despite several notices, the studies haven''t been produced, while the pesticides in question continue to be manufactured and sold.
Beekeepers, meanwhile, are growing ever more alarmed as their bees continue to die off.
John Bennett of Sierra Club Canada Foundation says the government needs to listen to beekeepers who are suggesting so-called neonicotinoid pesticides are toxic to bees.
Health Canada issued a report in September indicating that detectable residues of neonicotinoid insecticidesused to treat corn and soy seeds were found in large numbers of dead bee samples taken in 2013.
Sierra Club, the David Suzuki Foundation, Equiterre and the Wilderness Committee have sent a letter to Health Minister Rona Ambrose, calling on her to take action saying pesticide makers should not be allowed to sell their products until the studies are provided.
In November, Ambrose said her department didn''t expect to receive the required pesticide studies until 2015 at the earliest.
Most of the bees that are dying have been found in Ontario and Quebec. The Ontario Beekeepers Association last week rejected the final report from a bee health working group, which promoted the use of non-insecticide treated seeds, but also concluded that neonicotinoidscould be safe for bees if applied properly at planting time.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said her province is looking to Health Canada for evidence-based direction on a national approach to neonicotinoid use.