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  • From: Leigh Hauter <bullrunfarm AT hughes.net>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Bayer and EPA break the law
  • Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:56:37 -0500

RIchard, you need to go back to logic 101. Let me say it simply for you this time so you don't get confused and wrongly paraphrase what I wrote.

Bayer is bending if not breaking the law.

Eight years ago Bayer was supposed to successfully field test Poncho (Clothianidin) to show it could be safely used without endangering honey bee colonies.

Bayer's product failed the simple field tests.

By law, if Bayer's product failed the field test it doesn't get a license to distribute its product. That's the law.

Instead of following the law and refusing to license Poncho, the Bush Administration's EPA gave Bayer a second chance and while they waited for Bayer to re-conduct the test it issued a temporary license.

Now, here we are, eight years later and Bayer has still not conducted the basic test (if it has the product must not have passed because no one has been told), it still hasn't proven that its product can be safely used without hurting honey bee colonies.

The American Federation of Beekeepers as well as the National Honey Bee Advisory Board (an elected body of professional beekeepers) are saying enough is enough. They are calling on the government to issue Bayer an immediate stop-use order.

The EPA had the power to pull the temporary license. Pull it now until Bayer is able to conduct the test they should have conducted eight years ago.

Also, before Bayer is allowed to put their product back on the market it must redesign its field studies (the ones it couldn't pass) to satisfy the EPA staff's charge that the original studies were insufficiently rigorous to test whether clothianidin contributes to CCD in a real-world scenario. (the previous test evaluated the wrong crop, over an insufficient time period and with inadequate controls).

Richard, so you don't get confused with what I'm saying let me give you a really brief summary

Clothianidin has not yet, after eight years, passed the tests to be licensed as an insecticide. Immediately pull Clothianidin 'temporary' license and keep it off the market until it can be proven to be safe for honey bee colonies.


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