News

Neonic insecticides need analysis under Endangered Species Act

A federal court has ruled the Environmental Protection Agency violated the Endangered Species Act by not properly reviewing neonicotinoid-coated seeds.

Beekeepers, conservation, food safety and consumer groups sued the agency saying the seeds, which are used on more than 150 million acres in the U.S., harmed bee populations.

The federal judge said plaintiffs had standing to sue, but ruled against all claims expect that the EPA did not comply with the Endangered Species Act, and ordered the two parties to schedule a settlement conference.

Bayer Crop Sciences, Syngenta, Valent and other makers of the treated seed say the court found that EPA followed the correct procedures under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, and upheld there was no imminent hazards to the environment using the products.