Bayer believes EPA report overestimates harm of neonicotinoids

The Environmental Protection Agency recently released an Imidacloprid Risk Assessment Preliminary Report that Bayer believes is overestimating the potential for harmful exposure to humans and crops.

Bayer has conducted hundreds of studies and demonstrated the safe use on farmland.

Neonicotinoids are a top choice for farmers because of the safety profile and allow farmers to be picky about which insects or pests they want to manage. For example, neonicotinoids allow farmers to kill destructive pests and protect against insect resistance while still preserving insects, such as honeybees that help pollinate.

Bayer will review the initial report again, but hopes that the EPA will acknowledge that neonicotinoids are beneficial to farmers and the protection of the honeybee population while being less harmful than other products to crops like citrus and cotton.