[5]
By Oregonians for Food and Shelter [6],
House Bill 2679 [7], put forward by Representative Zach Hudson
(D, Troutdale/Gresham), proposes new blanket restrictions on neonicotinoids. The bill would classify all neonicotinoids as restricted-use pesticides, requiring applicators to have a license to use them. We are expecting an amendment that would instead limit sales of neonicotinoids to only licensed dealers, which is intended to protect professional uses. However, even with the amendment, OFS opposes this bill.
- This bill ignores extensive work at both state and federal levels to ensure safe use and protection of pollinators. Oregon is already a national leader on pollinator protection efforts, including research, outreach, and regulatory actions.
- Many applicators currently applying neonicotinoids and other general-use pesticides are not required to purchase and maintain a license. This change would restrict many professional uses currently considered safe by EPA, based on science and evidence.
- Neonicotinoids vary in terms of their chemical properties, risk profiles, and use patterns. EPA assesses each individual chemistry, and imposes restrictions according to risk. Blanket limitations on an entire class of insecticides have no basis in science and will only lead to substitution risks when applicators including consumers switch back to older products which neonicotinoids were developed to replace.
- Both EPA and ODA have implemented mitigations and restrictions on neonicotinoids over the last decade, including product cancellations and prohibitions, and rate and use site changes. This bill would have no measurable impact on pollinators but would simply make it harder for pesticide applicators across many contexts to do their jobs.
- The legislature does not have the expertise to regulate pesticides, they should not be deciding which ones to restrict and certainly not legislating against an entire class of chemistries.
HB 2679 [7] is up for a hearing next Tuesday March 4th at 8am in the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment [8].