Scotts Miracle-Gro to Remove Certain Insecticides from Ortho Products
April 12 2016 - 10:00AM
Dow Jones News
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. plans to move away from using a class of
insecticides called neonicotinoids in its Ortho brand lawn and
garden products amid concerns about how the chemicals affect bees
vital to U.S. agriculture.
The Ohio-based company said that earlier this spring it expanded
its offerings of non-neonicotinoids based garden products and that
the Ortho brand aims to eliminate the use of neonicotinoid
ingredients imidacloprid, clothianidin and dinotefuran by 2017.
"This decision comes after careful consideration regarding the
range of possible threats to honey bees and other pollinators,"
said Tim Martin, general manager of the Ortho brand. Mr. Martin
noted that the U.S. government is still evaluating the overall
effect of neonics on bees and other pollinators.
Scotts Miracle-Gro also entered a multiyear partnership with the
Pollinator Stewardship Council, a U.S. pollinator advocacy
organization and supporter of more than 550 beekeepers throughout
the country, expanding a previous collaboration with the
organization. The company also plans to work with the council and
other partners to urge the government to allow new labeling
language to help consumers identify pesticides without
neonicotinoids.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a
preliminary review said one variety of the chemicals, called
imidacloprid, can leave residue in cotton and citrus plants at
levels that could harm bee colonies, but that levels on other crops
like corn and leafy vegetables didn't pose a risk.
The EPA added that more data is needed to fully assess the risks
from use on cereal grains and legumes. The agency at the time said
the preliminary report was the first of four bee-focused
neonicotinoid reviews it aims to complete by 2017.
In the U.S., Scotts Miracle-Gro's other brands include Scotts
and Miracle-Gro. The company also markets the consumer Roundup
brand, which is owned by Monsanto Co.
Write to Tess Stynes at tess.stynes@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 12, 2016 09:45 ET (13:45 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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