Headline: EPA undermines East Coast bee industry
The Minister of Primary Industries needs to step in and withdraw the approval for yet another bee harming pesticide that has just been approved, the Green Party said today.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday reported the approval of yet another insecticide containing the chemical imidacloprid that has been linked to bees’ colony collapse disorder. This newly approved product is called Savage 600 Flowable Seed Dressing Insecticide.
“This is a blow to Māori bee-keepers on the East Coast” said Marama Davidson, Ikaroa-Rāwhiti candidate for the Green Party. “While the government supports risky industries like petroleum exploration and the chemicals industry, they undermine whānau businesses like bee-keeping that rely on a clean, healthy environment.”
“I have heard from Ngāti Porou bee keepers who want to establish hapū-based cooperatives and these kind of decisions put those business plans at serious risk. The Gisborne-based President of the National Beekeeper’s Association has consistently opposed the introduction of these dangerous pesticides because of their devastating impact on bee colonies. East Coast beekeepers will be very concerned about this situation that threatens the viability of our local product and sustainable jobs.”
The European Union just a few months ago froze for two years the use of Savage 600 and other neonicotinoids as a seed treatment because of the risk to bees while the EPA is approving more of them for use in New Zealand.
“The links between these chemicals and the decline in bee populations has been widely acknowledged. We rely on bees for all aspects of our agricultural and food production and can’t afford to lose them” said Steffan Browning, the Greens Primary Industries spokesperson.
“We need to take action to protect bees, not sting them with another attack.
“Our EPA didn’t even set any maximum limits of use for Savage 600 as they say it can’t harm bees but they have ignored any potential for systematic release of this insecticide throughout the plant and soil which will affect bees.
“Bees are so crucial to our agricultural sector. The Minister must take urgent action to protect them and the irreplaceable pollinating services they provide.
“The EPA made this decision to approve Savage 600 based on a previous similar insecticide they had approved. They need to get with the times and acknowledge that the rest of the world is taking substantive action to protect bees while we are just watching them get assaulted again.”
For more information:
Marama Davidson, Ikaroa-Rāwhiti candidate, 021 025 88302
Steffan Browning, MP, 021 804 223
Current photographs of Green MPs and Green Party logos can be downloaded fromhttp://www.greens.org.nz/mediaresources.
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Oh jolly joy. Just what we need to further undermine our “100% Pure” and “Clean and Green” brand – a pesticide that is destructive to bees…
*facepalm*
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