On January 24, 2022, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced action to reclassify products containing certain neonicotinoids (neonics) insecticides as “restricted use.” This means that starting in January 2023, only certified applicators will be allowed to use these products. This action enables better tracking of just how much of these insecticides are being used, monitoring where they are used, while also limiting overall exposure to pollinators as well as NY’s air, water, and communities.
In response to this announcement, the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter issued the following statement: "Reclassifying the neonic insecticides imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and acetamiprid as 'restricted use' takes these dangerous pollinator-killers out of circulation for the everyday consumer and helps to curb their misuse and overuse," said Caitlin Ferrante, Conservation Program Manager, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. "The Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter commends Governor Hochul and DEC for this important action to help reverse the pollinator crisis and we hope today's announcement will lead to further restrictions of this dangerous insecticide, and recovery of plummeting bird and insect populations."
Additionally, the Sierra Club has been supporting The Birds and Bees Protection Act - A.7429/S699B. The bill would ban neonic-treated corn, wheat, and soybean seeds, ban the use of turf and ornamental neonic uses, and would require DEC, in consultation with the NY Department of Ag and Markets and Cornell to identify "practicable and feasible" alternatives to nemonic products. The January 2022 action taken by the DEC would not prevent most use by landscapers, pest control specialists, or seed treatment uses—all of which are large contributors to neonic pollution. While DEC’s move is a good first step in addressing this pollution, much more still needs to be done. Thankfully, the Birds and Bees Protection Act does exactly that by eliminating the high-cost/low-benefit neonic uses identified in the 2020 Cornell Report (found here).
To read the full DEC announcement, see here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/124619.html
To learn more about getting involved in the issue, email Caitlin Ferrante or Abby Scher.