{"id":258541,"date":"2022-07-20T05:25:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T12:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calmatters.org\/?p=258541"},"modified":"2022-07-20T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T16:00:00","slug":"california-pesticides-restrictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/calmatters.org\/_es\/environment\/2022\/07\/california-pesticides-restrictions\/","title":{"rendered":"California se prepara para restringir los pesticidas que matan a las abejas"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\n\t\t
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In summary<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

California is acting later than many states in regulating neonicotinoids, but its rules would be among the nation\u2019s most extensive. They would change how growers kill pests on nuts, citrus and other fruit crops.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n

Lea este art\u00edculo en espa\u00f1ol<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Widely used insecticides that harm bees<\/a> and songbirds<\/a> would face far-reaching restrictions in California under regulations proposed by the state\u2019s pesticide agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new limits would be among the nation\u2019s most extensive for agricultural use of neonicotinoids, a class of insecticides used to kill plant-damaging pests like aphids<\/a>. The highly potent pesticides have been shown to harm bees<\/a>, birds<\/a> and other creatures.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aimed at protecting bees <\/a>that pollinate crops, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s proposed rules<\/a> would restrict four closely-related<\/a> neonicotinoid chemicals: imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin and dinotefuran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unveiled in February, the rules would limit when and how much can be applied, depending on the specific chemical, the crop and, in some cases, the presence of honeybees or other pollinators. California\u2019s pesticide regulators are still evaluating public feedback and there is no specific timeframe for finalizing the proposal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neonicotinoids are the most popular insecticides<\/a> in the world<\/a> \u2014 although not in California, according to the state pesticide agency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPollinators play a very important role in the ecosystem at large as well as for crops and being able to produce food in the state.\u201d<\/p>Karen Morrison, California Department of Pesticide Regulation<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

More than a decade in the making, California\u2019s reevaluation of neonicotinoids began in 2009, after the agency received a report<\/a> from pesticide manufacturer Bayer CropScience that \u201cshowed potentially harmful effects of imidacloprid to pollinators.\u201d A 2014 law<\/a> set a series of deadlines for reevaluating their risks and adopting \u201cany control measures necessary to protect pollinator health.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, a bill in the Legislature<\/a> would ban use of neonicotinoids in homes, yards and other outdoor non-agricultural settings, starting in 2024. A variety of consumer products are registered for use in California<\/a>, such as BioAdvanced All-in-One Rose and Flower Care Liquid Concentrate,<\/a> which contains imidacloprid.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bill trails other states, including New Jersey<\/a> and Maine<\/a>, that have already banned outdoor uses in gardens and residential areas. New Jersey\u2019s ban extends to commercial landscapes<\/a>, like golf courses, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The European Union banned<\/a> several neonicotinoids for all outdoor uses because of the risks to bees. And other states<\/a> already have some restrictions on agricultural use, largely by allowing the chemicals to be bought or used only by those with specific training. Rhode Island<\/a> has also barred neonicotinoids when crops are blooming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If finalized, California\u2019s proposal to restrict agricultural use could \u201csignificantly impact when and how\u201d neonicotinoid products can be used in the nation\u2019s No. 1 agricultural state<\/a>, according to an analysis by the California Department of Food and Agriculture<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is critical,\u201d said Karen Morrison, acting chief deputy director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation. \u201cPollinators play a very important role in the ecosystem at large as well as for crops and being able to produce food in the state.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

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California regulators anticipate the rule would reduce neonicotinoids applied to plants and soil by 45%<\/a>. Seeds coated in neonicotinoids \u2014 a major use of the chemicals<\/a> \u2014 would not be restricted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

California growers say the restrictions could hamstring their power to protect crops and could ultimately lead to worse outcomes for pollinators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Limiting the use of neonicotinoids could force the citrus industry, for instance, to use other pesticides that are \u201cnot necessarily what the state of California wants\u201d and could require \u201cmultiple sprays, something that may pose more risk to bees,\u201d said Casey Creamer, president and CEO of California Citrus Mutual, a trade association of citrus growers.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almonds, cherries, citrus, cotton, grapes, strawberries, tomatoes and walnuts are major crops expected to be highly affected by the restrictions<\/a>. These crops make up about half of the state\u2019s agricultural exports and two-thirds of the acreage treated with neonicotinoids from 2017 to 2019. Fresno, Kern, Tulare, Monterey and San Joaquin top the list of counties<\/a> where the most neonicotinoids were applied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n