Environmental groups are headed to court in a bid to protect pollinators from a harmful class of pesticides.

The David Suzuki Foundation, Friends of the Earth Canada, Ontario Nature and the Wilderness Committee have been tracking the scientific evidence linking neonicotinoid pesticides and pollinator deaths. Now, they say it's time for Canada to stop ignoring the risks.

Ecojustice lawyers representing the groups argue that a number of pesticides containing two neonicotinoid active ingredients (Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam) are unlawfully registered in Canada.

They allege that the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) failed to live up to its legal responsibilities as a regulator. Specifically, the Agency failed to ensure for more than a decade that it had the scientific information necessary to determine the pesticides' environmental risks, in particular risks to pollinators. The federal Pest Control Products Act requires the PMRA have "reasonable certainty" that a pesticide will cause no harm to the environment before registering it.

They also point to a number of Thiamethoxam-based pesticides that have been registered for years in Canada without ever being subject to public consultation required by the Act.

The environmental groups are asking the court to declare the registrations of these Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam-based pesticides invalid. Only validly registered pesticides can be used in Canada.

Ecojustice lawyer, Charles Hatt, said: "The PMRA has taken a see-no-evil, hear-no-evil, speak-no-evil approach by repeatedly registering these neonicotinoid pesticides without important scientific information on their risks to pollinators."

Anne Bell, Director of Conservation and Education at Ontario Nature, said: "Pollinators are key players in our ecosystems, and their declines are extremely concerning. A stunning variety of plants — including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and 90 per cent of flowering plants — need pollinators to reproduce and thrive."

source: media release