Summary

This bill amends the environmental conservation law to prohibit certain uses of neonicotinoids, including on certain seed coatings and turf and ornamental uses. 

Explanation

This bill would ban the sale of corn, soybean, and wheat seeds coated with toxic neonicotinoids (neonics), as well as prohibit the use of these toxic insecticides  on turf and ornamental plants until Summer 2028. In addition, it commissions a study to be conducted on the feasible alternatives to toxic pesticide use. The use and application of neonics threatens the health and viability of New York State’s agricultural production, food systems, economic development and environmental sustainability.  

Neonics are extremely harmful insecticides that can kill pollinators, birds, and fish. Neonics have been linked to colony collapse disorder, a disturbing trend of massive bee die-offs. Beekeepers in New York have lost over 40% of their bee colonies every year for the past decade. The collapse of bees threatens the agricultural production of apples, pumpkins, squash and tomatoes in New York. These crops contribute nearly half a billion in economic output in our state each year and support thousands of jobs and much-needed tax revenue. 

These insecticides also work their way into ponds and nearby waterways through runoff. Neonics have appeared in roughly 30% of Long Island groundwater samples and frequently in state surface waters at levels expected to cause “ecosystem-wide damage.” Once in a body of water, these toxic insecticides are ingested by insects, ultimately having detrimental impacts on fish and birds up the food chain.   

A major report by Cornell University concluded that the most common uses of neonics in New York, which pose substantial risks to pollinators, provide little to no benefits to users and are easily replaced by safer alternatives. This bill targets these high-cost, low-benefit uses for elimination. This bill will help stop approximately 80-90% of the total outdoor neonic use from entering the environment. 

Following the lead of other states and the European Union, New York should take the commonsense step to ban the most common and harmful uses of neonics and protect the pollinator species and food systems we depend on. 

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