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CWF’s Five-Step
‘Ban With A Plan’
Program

CWF’s Five-Step
‘Ban With A Plan’
Program

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Five-Step Plan

In a recent open letter to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Federation along with 15 non-profit environmental and human health organizations signed their support to urge our government to take immediate action to end the use of neonicotinoid insecticides in Canada in response to recent international developments and significant evidence of serious harm.

In addition, one of CWF’s scientists joined over 200 scientists in an open letter published in the journal Science to urge for immediate action from governments around the world to create national and international agreements to greatly restrict the use of neonics.

We’ve developed a five-step plan to not just ban neonics, but also work with farmers and policy-makers and help the environment recover from the devastating effects of these pesticides.

Ban the use of neonics

The Canadian Wildlife Federation calls for a legislated, national ban on the use of all forms of neonicotinoid pesticides in agriculture, horticulture, turf production and golf courses. Under the ban, emergency use of neonics would be permitted for a limited number of years, but only under cases of severe pest outbreak and with a prescription from a certified agronomist.
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Recover Affected Species

Recover species impacted by neonics, including wild bees, hoverflies, other insect pollinators, aquatic insects, and species experiencing the indirect effects of neonics due to reduced food availability, such as birds, bats and fish.
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Encourage Research and Development on Safer Pest Control Technologies

Support the development of pest-specific chemicals (or biological agents) with limited environmental effects – to encourage the development of longer term, directed products.

Give Farmers Alternatives

We are encouraging banning the use of neonicotinoids (neonics), but a major component of this is a plan that helps support farmers in transitioning to alternatives to neonics while ensuring crop yields and quality. These supports include: extending the patent period for less harmful and/or better targeted insecticides so these products are more widely available; encouraging government programs to support integrated pest management and alternatives to neonicotinoids; improving agricultural extension on insect management; improving insurance programs to cover potential losses. More elements of the Plan are working with government, industry and others to better understand effects on non-target species, to improve academic and public scrutiny of studies by pesticide manufacturers, and establishment of an oversight committee without ties to industry.

Reform How the Government Protects Our Food Supply

Improve risk assessment methods for pesticides, including oversight and greater transparency in how pesticides are licensed and regulated, to ensure the seriously harmful pesticides are not licensed by the Canadian government.  End the licensing of systemic pesticides.