Earthjustice is fighting to stop the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, which are wiping out beneficial insects and threatening the health of our planet.

Defendant California Department of Pesticide Regulation (the Department), approved amended labels for two previously registered pesticides: Dinotefuran 20SG, manufactured by real party in interest Mistui Chemicals Agro, Inc. (Mitsui), and Venom Insecticide, manufactured by real party in interest Valent U.S.A. Corporation (Valent). The amended labels allowed both pesticides to be used on additional crops and allowed Venom Insecticide to be used in increased quantities. Both pesticides contain the active ingredient dinotefuran, which is from a class of pesticides called neonicotinoids. In approving the labels, the Department concluded uses of both pesticides in accord with the label amendments would cause no significant environmental effect on honeybees or the environment.

Decision ends state’s practice of rubber-stamping new uses for neonicotinoids

The judgment denying PANNA’s writ of mandate is reversed. The judgment is remanded to the superior court with instructions to issue a writ of mandate directing the Department to rescind its June 13, 2014 approval of the Dinotefuran 20SG and Venom Insecticide label amendments.

Bees do more than just produce honey, which is why Earthjustice is in court fighting for the survival of the bees, the beekeeping industry—and our nation’s food supply.

AB 1789 would postpone action on bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides to 2020

The state of our honey bees is in danger. There’s a ghastly bill up for vote before the California Legislature – a bill that would postpone any action by the state’s Department of Pesticide Regulation to ban bee-killing pesticides until 2020.

Why we are working to get bee-killing pesticides out of California fields.

Environmental and food safety groups are challenging California’s illegal practice of approving new agricultural uses for neonicotinoid pesticides, despite mounting evidence that the pesticides are devastating honeybees. Pesticide Action Network, Center for Food Safety, and Beyond Pesticides, represented by Earthjustice, filed the legal challenge in the California Superior Court for the County of Alameda, urging…

Today, environmental and food safety groups challenged California’s illegal practice of approving new agricultural uses for neonicotinoid pesticides despite mounting evidence that the pesticides are devastating honeybees.
Pesticide Action Network, Center for Food Safety, and Beyond Pesticides, represented by Earthjustice, filed the legal challenge in the California Superior Court for the County of Alameda, urging the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to stop approving neonicotinoid pesticides pending its completion of a comprehensive scientific review of impacts to honeybees. DPR began its scientific review in early 2009 after it received evidence that neonicotinoids are killing bees, but five years later, DPR has yet to take meaningful action to protect bees.

State rubberstamps expanded usage before determining effects on crop pollinators

Honeybees pollinate one-third of all the food we eat. Take a closer look at a major cause of widespread bee die-offs, what it means to us, and how we can help the bees.