For Release: May 28, 2015

Proposed restrictions will prohibit use where bees are present for commercial pollination

To further support President Obama’s Federal Pollinator Strategy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing additional restrictions on the use of acutely toxic pesticides during times when bees are most likely to be present.

Applications of acutely toxic pesticides would be prohibited when flowers are in bloom when bees are brought to farms for pollination services. While the proposed restrictions focus on managed bees, EPA believes that these measures will also protect native bees and other pollinators that are in and around treatment areas.

EPA is also encouraging states and tribes to reduce pesticide exposure by developing pollinator protection plans. The purpose of these plans is to support pollinator health by facilitating local communication among beekeepers, growers and others and to put into place tailored measures to protect pollinators.

Growers routinely contract with honey bee keepers to bring in bees to pollinate their crops that require insect pollination.  Bees are typically present during the period the crops are in bloom. Application of pesticides during this period can significantly affect the health of bees.

EPA invites comments on the proposal for thirty-day comment period at www.regulations.gov in docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0818.

EPA will accept public comments on the proposal starting May 29, 2015.

Read the fact sheet.

Read about other actions EPA is taking to protect pollinators.