Environmentalists' Lawsuit Seeks Strict EPA Oversight Of Treated Seeds

摘要

Environmentalists and beekeepers are suing EPA over its exemption of neonicotinoid-treated seeds from Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) regulation, arguing the agency is misinterpreting the pesticide law and allowing unregulated use of pesticides that are causing environmental harms, including bee kills. Environmental groups have long blamed the neonicotinoid class of insecticides for declining bee populations, and argued that EPA is misapplying a FIFRA exemption for "treated articles" to seeds coated with the substances.