In November, Health Canada said that a nation-wide ban of imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide, was necessary because the chemical is a threat to aquatic insects.
In late December a University of Guelph expert said the government’s conclusion was an “over-reaction” and a mistake.
“I’m not in agreement with the decision to ban (imidacloprid)…. I don’t agree that the weight of evidence suggests that that particular action is needed,” said Paul Sibley, a … professor in environmental sciences.
“I do think some action is needed, but I think that (a ban) is essentially a politicized response, much as we saw in Europe when they banned (neonicotinoids) because of a pollination concerns.”
. . . .
“There is a heavy, heavy lobby from beekeepers and others, largely environmentalists, to outright ban these chemicals,” Sibley said.
. . . .
“There are a number of so-called best management practices that we could incorporate, (which) would lead to a reduction in the environmental concentration of the neonics. The decision … to phase out, I think that’s where the politics comes in…. ”
Sibley studies how pesticides affect aquatic species….
Based on [his graduate] student’s lab research, Health Canada’s proposed thresholds for imidacloprid are too low, Sibley said.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: PMRA’s proposed neonic ban called political
