Overview
OFA submitted a formal response to the government’s Pollinator Health Strategy discussion paper and to the proposed regulations, outlining a sound alternative to the regulation. In our submission, OFA pronounced the proposed regulations as unworkable.
When the Ontario government moved ahead with changes to the Pesticides Act to restrict the use of neonic-treated corn and soybean seed, OFA continued to advocate to request that the government’s regulations be workable for Ontario farmers.
With very short implementation timelines, the new regulations proved burdensome. Reducing the regulatory burden for farmers and the seed industry remains a priority of OFA, while also ensuring the health of our pollinators.
OFA continues to work with government and industry to make these regulations workable – with better detail and more flexibility around implementation. OFA will continue to push for a comprehensive pollinator strategy that works for everyone in the province.
The Ontario government’s regulations to reduce neonicotinoids came into effect on July 1, 2015. Read the regulations here.
OFA Position
OFA supports and consistently advocates for a broad pollinator health strategy.