TrueActivist has reported before the devastation that will be experienced on the planet – and not just in grocery stores – if bees go extinct. Especially in recent years, populations of the bumbling insect have dropped dramatically, a phenomenon known as “colony collapse.”
Everything from electromagnetic frequencies to mites and viruses has been blamed, but certain studies indicate that neonicotinoids – pesticides which attack the central nervous system of insects – are the main contributor to colony collapse.
One thing is for sure: bee populations are dying off, and something has to be done.
To further prevent colony collapse, the United States is finally taking action. A US appeals court recently ruled that federal regulators should not have approved the use of an insecticide, which is linked to a decline in bee populations. The court also determined that the EPA used “flawed and limited data.”
This ruling means that farmers have to immediately stop using sulfoxaflor, a known neonicotinoid. The insecticide is marketed under the brand names Transform and Closer, and the ruling will last indefinitely, or until the Environmental Protection Agency obtains more evidence regarding its effects on honeybees. Only then will the EPA be allowed to decide if it can re-approve the chemical for use on crops.
Said Greg Loarie, an attorney representing several commercial beekeeping groups:
“It’s a complete victory for the beekeepers we represent; The EPA has not been very vigilant.”
According to Reuters, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed and determined the EPA didn’t collect enough “substantial evidence” to prove sulfoxaflor was safe before approving it for use.
Interestingly, the EPA had originally proposed several limits on sulfoxaflor’s use, but later backed off and approved it for unconditional use on crops. One must wonder why, especially since Europe already banned the use of neonicotinoids and studies indicate it to be a hazard to insect populations.
Apparently, the court found that the EPA amended its policy even though the maker, Dow AgroSciences, failed to provide additional studies requested by the EPA.
Is this more evidence the government is being heavily influenced by Big Ag corporations? Share this article and comment your thoughts below.
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