"ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Three common neonicotinoid insecticides were ruled "likely to adversely affect" thousands of endangered species and critical habitats, according to draft biological evaluations released by EPA on Thursday, Aug. 26.
These findings could result in additional changes to the labels of the three neonicotinoid insecticides, if EPA decides they are necessary to protect these species and habitats after it consults with the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service in the months ahead. The products in question are imidacloprid (such as in Gaucho, from Bayer), clothianidin (such as in Poncho, from BASF) and thiamethoxam (such as in Cruiser, from Syngenta). These insecticides are also available from other companies.
All three are common ingredients in corn, soybean, wheat or cottonseed treatments, among other agricultural uses. EPA had granted interim registration decisions for all three back in January 2020, but those registrations are not finalized until the agency has wrapped up these biological evaluations and decided if additional safety measures are required for their use.
All pesticides must go through these endangered species screenings, due to requirements in the Endangered Species Act, but EPA has only just begun to execute them. Most recently, the agency released its endangered species assessment for glyphosate, which found that the vast majority of species and habitats considered were at risk from glyphosate use."
Emily Unglesbee reports for Progressive Farmer/DTN August 26, 2021.
Advertisement 
