The
federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency has cleared neonicotinoid seed
treatments.
The
agency, which is part of Health Canada, issued its final decision Thursday and
said that it will take some steps to protect bees, such as banning neonics as a
fruit-tree spray during pollination season, but will allow neonics to be used
as a seed treatment.
There
will also be protections for aquatic life.
“Health
Canada has announced that it will be cancelling some uses of these pesticides,
and changing other conditions of use such as restricting the timing of
application,” said a press release from the department.
“Remaining
uses (e.g., treatment on canola seeds and greenhouse vegetables) are not
expected to pose unacceptable risks to bees and other pollinators.”
