EFSA Concludes Significant Risk for Bees while U.S. Continues to Take Comments

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has confirmed that pesticides known as neonicotinoids are a risk to wild bees and honeybees. This new assessment by EFSA’s Pesticide Unit represents the most substantial analysis to date. These neonicotinoids, or nicotine-like insecticides, are typically used to coat seeds to protect against insects upon planting. However, the pesticides are absorbed by plants and can be found in plant tissues, nectar and pollen. Research has shown that these pesticides affect bees and other insects by attacking the central nervous system, thus leading to paralysis and death.