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Pesticide News Story: EPA Makes Draft Guidance on Bee Precautionary Labeling (PR Notice) Available for Public Comment
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Note: This information is provided for reference purposes only. Although the information provided here was accurate and current when first created, it is now outdated. |
On November 22, 2000, EPA published in the Federal Register a Notice of Availability of its draft Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice on bee precautionary labeling for public comment. Comments on the PR Notice must be received on or before January 22, 2001.
The PR Notice contains EPA's proposed new guidance regarding appropriate standard label language to protect bees from exposure to pesticides used on crops. In particular, it would require specific language regarding the length of time that a pesticide would pose a threat to bees, based on scientific studies. In the absence of scientific studies, the label would state 24 hours as the length of time the pesticide would pose a threat to bees. The rule would also provide exceptions where no exposure to bees would occur from labeled use or when applicators meet state bee-protection guidelines. EPA believes that these revisions will make the labeling clearer and more easily understood by pesticide users and by regulatory officials who enforce label provisions, thereby helping to ensure that pesticide products used outdoors can be used without posing unnecessary risks of bee mortality.
The Agency believes that label precautions should be supplemented by additional efforts to protect bees from unintended pesticide exposure, and that state programs should have the lead in evaluating such efforts. The PR Notice recommends that state pesticide regulatory agencies consider a variety of regulatory and non-regulatory measures to include in bee-protection efforts. EPA believes that state agencies are in the best position to understand the localized crop-pesticide combinations and other factors that pose the greatest risks to bees, and can implement appropriate measures to mitigate those risks under varying local and geographic conditions. EPA does not intend to set specific criteria or approve state bee protection programs.
For more information, call James Roelofs at 703-308-2964.