The federal government will reportedly take steps to phase out certain nicotine-based pesticides over the next few years.
These pesticides, which are linked to a rising number of honey bee deaths, will start to be phased out in 2021, a source has told the Canadian Press.
Called neonicotinoids, they’re a class of pesticides used by farmers and hobby gardeners to manage pests, but scientists blame the chemical for weakening bees.
This makes the important honey bee more susceptible to disease and bad weather.
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Canada is expected to announce the three-year phaseout on Wednesday.
It will include two of the three main neonicotinoid pesticides approved for use in Canada.
The agency has already announced plans to phase out the third pesticide in all outdoor uses, meaning it can’t be sprayed or used to pretreat seeds before planting.
Wednesday’s announcement will mark the completion of nearly six years of work by the agency and it follows a similar ban made by the European Union, which takes effect at the end of the year.
