Trillium Signs Open Letter to U.S. EPA Calling for Moratorium on Neonicotinoids to Protect Honey Bee Population

On December 2, 2013, Trillium Asset Management was one of over 60 organizations that joined CERES Trust, Center for Food Safety, Pesticide Action Network and Beyond Pesticides in signing an open letter to the U.S. EPA asking the Agency to impose an immediate moratorium on the use of neonicotinoids, a toxic pesticide that is believed to be a major contributing factor to the alarming decline in honey bees.

The letter was published as a full page ad in the New York Times.

Fifteen countries, not including the U.S., have imposed a two-year restriction on these specific pesticides. The EPA estimates that it will take 5 years of consideration before a U.S. decision will be made.

The goal of a moratorium is not the outright ban of neonicitinoids, rather to press EPA to speed up its assessment process and focus on developing clear rules around restricted use of these pesticides and look toward potential phase out as alternative pesticides come to market.