National Farmers Union welcomes Senate report on Bee Health

National Farmers Union welcomes Senate report on Bee Health

Postby Oscar » Fri Jun 05, 2015 5:48 pm

National Farmers Union welcomes Senate report on Bee Health

[ http://us10.campaign-archive1.com/?u=09 ... 5d89e24d0f ]

Media Release June 5, 2015

The National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased to see the report, The Importance of Bee Health to Sustainable Food Production in Canada, which reflects serious attention by the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee in its study of the health of bees, including the effect of neonicotinoid insecticides on honeybees and other pollinators. The Senate Committee sought input from a variety of different perspectives, including the NFU, which appeared as witness before the Committee on May 1, 2014.

The NFU submission is available at [ http://www.nfu.ca/story/importance-bees-and-bee-health ] .

“The Senate recommendations include aspects of key points made by the NFU, including a call for more research on neonicotinoid impacts, improvements in monitoring of bee mortality, availability of more untreated seed, reduced reliance on chemical strategies to manage pests in both bees and crops, and promoting greater biodiversity in the landscape,” noted Karen Eatwell, NFU Region 3 (Ontario) Coordinator.

“The NFU would urge that research, monitoring, evaluation and program development regarding pollinator health be led by independent third-party scientists, funded by the public in the public interest,” said Ann Slater, NFU Vice President of Policy.

“The Senate report’s recommendation that the Bee Health Forum provide research leadership would not adequately reflect the public interest with the Forum as it is currently composed. Many of its members have a financial interest in the continued widespread use of the neonicotinoid seed treatments sold by their members,” Slater continued. “If the Bee Health Forum is to take the lead on any of the Senate Committee’s recommendations, it needs to include a wider cross-section of perspectives, including representatives from the organizations representing beekeepers who have experienced bee mortalities linked to neonicotinoids in Ontario and Quebec.”

“The NFU does not support the Senate Committee’s recommendation to allow importation of bee packages from the USA,” said Saskatchewan beekeeper and NFU member, Karen Pedersen. “We need to maintain the current rules to prevent the accelerated introduction of new diseases and pests, resistant diseases and pests and Africanized bees. Even with effective inspection, importing bees from a jurisdiction that cannot supply its own market is not a solution.”

“The Senate Commitee’s study is an important contribution to the public discussion of bee health,” noted Slater. “We support the efforts of beekeepers to protect their bees and their livelihoods, and continue to urge governments to use the precautionary approach when regulating pesticides such as neonicotinoids and to take steps to increase biodiversity across our landscape to the benefit of both bees and other pollinators. ” - 30 –

For more information:


Karen Eatwell, NFU Region 3 (Ontario) Regional Coordinator: (519) 232-4105
Ann Slater, NFU Vice President, Policy: (519) 349-2448
Karen Pedersen, NFU member: (306) 398-7726 or (306) 398-3633

NFU Submission to Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee on the Importance of Bees and Bee Health,
[ http://www.nfu.ca/story/importance-bees-and-bee-health ]
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