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Pollinator Protection: Risk Management
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Pesticide risk management must be based on sound science, consistent with the laws under which pesticides are regulated, and developed in a transparent process. Some of the risk management actions we have been able to take that are supported by currently available information include:
- Ensuring that pesticide labels incorporate environmental hazard statements intended to protect bees.
- Accelerating and coordinating the review of the neonicotinoid pesticides in our Registration Review program.
- Working with pesticide manufacturers to use “sticking agents” for agricultural seed treatment pesticides for some types of seed. Sticking agents make the pesticide stay on the seed, which reduces the potential for pollinators to be exposed to the chemicals.
- Seeking changes to air-driven seeding equipment that would reduce pesticide-laden dust. An older design of air-driven seeding equipment was one of many factors contributing to a 2008 bee-kill incident in Germany.
While we work to develop the tools to better assess risk, such as well-constructed scientific studies, we continue to promote pollinator risk reduction through education and outreach with our partners and stakeholders. Examples of these efforts include the following:
Working with the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC)
In 2009, we hosted the annual NAPPC International Conference. At the conference, EPA and NAPPC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (PDF) (6 pp, 1.4 MB, about PDF) that signifies our cooperative relationship and shared objectives. EPA staff serve on various NAPPC task forces, including the Pesticide Task Force, which is developing brochures on the safe use of pesticides to protect pollinators (2 pp, 839k, about PDF) .
In the future, we will work with NAPPC and its many other partners to develop materials in support of continuing education to be used by states in recertifying licensed pesticide applicators. This effort will contribute to our plan to add elements that protect pollinators to EPA’s regulations for applicator certification.
Working with Our European Partners
We conducted a survey with our European partners in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to identify needs for regulating and managing risks to pollinators. The results of the OECD survey (PDF) 
are helping to guide international efforts to protect pollinators:
- Advancing and harmonizing the science of risk assessment;
- Sharing risk management approaches and developing performance measures for management actions;
- Developing tools to better share information on incidents; and
- Developing an inventory of research focused on pollinator health and protection.
Working with Our Federal, State, and Advisory Group Partners
As we begin to further enhance our tools to evaluate pesticide risk to insect pollinators, we are exploring risk management tools that are both protective and cost-effective for beekeepers, pesticide applicators, and farmers. To do this, we will seek input from our stakeholder advisory groups, like the State Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act Issues Research and Evaluation Group (SFIREG) and the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC). We will also draw upon the experience and knowledge of federal and state partners, including Integrated Pest Management representatives and USDA’s Agricultural Extension Service personnel.