Smith Bill to Classify Neonicotinoid Pesticides for Restricted Use Advances from Senate

Trenton – A bill sponsored by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee Chair Senator Bob Smith, which would direct the Department of Environmental Protection to classify neonicotinoid pesticides as restricted use pesticides, cleared the Senate today.

“The use of neonicotinoid pesticides must be restricted to protect New Jersey’s citizens and environment. Most importantly, these pesticides have been linked to the destruction of honeybee colonies across the country. Honeybees are one of the most important organisms in our ecosystem and are key to the survival of our agricultural industry,” said Senator Smith (D-Middlesex/Somerset). “To protect the state’s economy and agricultural industry, we need to ban these products that have deadly, adverse effects on local honeybee populations.”

The bill, S-1016, would direct the Department of Environmental Protection to classify neonicotinoid pesticides as restricted use pesticides. This classification would mean that neonicotinoids could only be purchased and used by certified and licensed pesticide applicators.

Neonicotinoids are a class of neuro-active insecticides chemically similar to nicotine. The neonicotinoid family includes acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, nithiazine, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam. They are commonly found in Admire, Gaucho, Advocate and many more.

Neonicotinoids have been linked to adverse ecological effects such as honeybee colony collapse disorder. This bill follows similar bills that have been passed in other states as well as the European Union to curb the negative ecological effects of neonicotinoid pesticides.

The bill was released from the Senate by a vote of 27-6.