EPA sued over federal insecticide regulations

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is facing a federal lawsuit from a group of commercial beekeepers, growers and environmental activists who say the EPA is not regulating seeds treated with as pesticides which they should be under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.

The EPA has a longstanding treated article exemption that the American Seed Trade Association supports as part of the government’s policy. Pesticides used as seed treatments are regulated by the EPA, while seeds are regulated on the state level and by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The groups in the lawsuit want seeds to be regulated as a pesticide, but others believe it would be an added burden for growers.

Seeds are treated in early stages to prevent damage from insects and diseases with seed treatments which are targeted to reduce the environmental impact on crops. They are targeted toward a specific crop to lessen damage to non-target areas and living things.