A federal judge’s ruling last week is being hailed as a victory for insecticide companies and lamented as a loss for beekeepers and nature advocates, reports Agri-Pulse.
An insecticide seed coating called neonicotinoid is believed to be partially responsible for the disappearance in many areas of the country of bees. Environmental groups had sued to have the substance outlawed.
But last week U.S. District Judge William Alsup found that it does not fall under his authority to prevent the use of the substance.
The pesticide industry cheered the decision. The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) said, “The ruling will allow farmers to continue to benefit from [critical] seed treatments.”
Andrew Kimbrell, director of the Center for Food Safety, called it “astounding that a judge, EPA or anyone with any common sense would not regulate this type of toxic pesticide use.”
