Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Chemicals and Toxics
    • Climate Change
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Environmental Justice
    • Greener Living
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Pesticides
    • Radon
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Guidance
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • EPA Administrator
    • Organization Chart
    • Staff Directory
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Jobs and Internships
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Lab and Research Centers
Pollinator Protection
Contact Us

Partners in Pollinator Protection

Related Information
  • Research
  • EPA Actions 

On this page:

  • Working with federal partners
  • Working with state and other partners
  • Working with international partners

Working with Federal Partners

We are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, agricultural equipment manufacturers, and the pesticide and seed industry to develop and apply technologies to reduce exposure to dust from pesticide-treated seed during planting activities.

USDA is leading the federal government's effort to examine honey bee health. We are part of this effort, focusing on aspects related to pesticides.

Concerns about commercial honey bee populations have refocused efforts to identify and use best management practices to minimize unintended contact between bees and pesticides. This is particularly challenging given the critical role bees play in pollinating agricultural crops as well as the important role insecticides play in controlling pests in agriculture. The EPA and USDA are leading collaborative efforts with a wide range of stakeholders to keep bees safe from pesticides.

See the Colony Collapse Disorder Action Plan (PDF)(28 pp, 2 MB, about PDF) for more information.

We are working with our federal partners and other stakeholders through a workgroup under our advisory group, the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee. The workgroup focuses on pollinator protection related to the following themes:

  • Initial, science-based risk management approaches, including appropriate labeling restrictions and training.
  • Development of information on state approaches and authorities.
  • Transfer of lessons learned by various stakeholders to improve existing management practices.
  • Continuing international communication.
  • Other issues the Agency wishes to bring to the workgroup’s attention.

More on the PPDC Pollinator Protection Workgroup is available in the archives. Search EPA Archive

Working with State and Other Partners

We are collaborating with state agencies and the North American Pollinator Campaign to advance education and training modules in pesticide applicator certification courses. Several states have implemented best management practices, and more are underway. 

Working with International Partners 

We work with global partners to develop and implement appropriate tests for evaluating both exposure to and effects of pesticides on honey bees. The following links exit the site
  • Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's Pesticide Effects on Insect Pollinators working group. See Managing Risk to Insect Pollinators.
  • International Commission on Plant Pollinator Relationships.
  • European Food Safety Authority See Bee Health.
  • Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency -- developing the risk assessment process, mitigation approaches and evaluating the neonicotinoids.
  • Pollinator Protection Home
  • Pollinator Health Concerns
  • — Colony Collapse Disorder
  • — Factors Affecting Pollinator Heath
  • — Risk Assessment
  • — EPA Actions to Protect Pollinators
  • — Partners in Pollinator Protection
  • What You Can Do
  • — Report Bee Kills
  • — Best Management Practices
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data.gov
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Open Government
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions

Follow.

Last updated on October 6, 2021