The federal government announced that is it phasing out neonicotinoids as insecticides in the agricultural industry and that is welcome news to the head of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.
Executive Director Lois Corbett says the European Union has already banned these and Canada is doing the right thing.
“Recognizing that the science says these seeds that are coated with neonicotinoids do have an impact much beyond the insect they are trying to get rid of in the field but clear down to our rivers and streams,” says Corbett.
Corbett says it’s easy to spot a seed that has been treated with these chemicals, for example, a hard kernel of corn is pink and sticky as opposed to golden coloured and smooth. She is concerned about the timeline of four years saying it could likely be done in 18 to 24 months in her opinion.
