Industry stakeholders have until May 7th to provide comment on the draft pollinator health regulations released this week.
The regs have been posted on-line on the Environmental Registry
Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal says the new rules will allow producers to access treated seed where there is a demonstrated need.
He says the regulation will be implemented over time, allowing producers a chance to adjust.
The testing for pests is being left in the hands of producers.
Leal says the government will cover the cost of new pest management training over the coming year.
The new regs are aimed at cutting the number of acres seeded with neonic-treated seeds by 80 per cent by 2017.
The government argues that cut is a precautionary move to protect pollinators.
It’s also described as the first step in a comprehensive Pollinator Health Action Plan that would also address the impact of the loss of habitat and nutrition, climate change and weather as well as disease, pest and genetics.
Anyone wishing to comment on the regulations can do so on-line through the Environmental Registry.
Comments can also be emailed to pollinatorhealth.ebr@ontario.ca.
The government says the initial proposals on pollinator health posted in November drew over 1,500 on-line comments and another almost 51,000 emails.
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