I have received the following information for those interested in
pesticides and beekeeping:
 
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing changes in
statements on pesticide labels.  It is proposing statements on pesticide
lablels be changed if the pesticide is toxic to insects that are beneficial to
crops, as shown in research data, of if the product is intended for
application from bud through bloom or foliar application to agricultural
crops, forests, shade trees, ornamentals, or for mosquito abatement.
 
To minimize bee kills, pesticide products that are toxic to bees will be
required to include one of two statements on the label to protect bees.
The statement will depend on whether the pesticide has displayed an
extended residual toxicity.  The two proposed samples are shown below.
They have already had wording changes from the original proposal and
likely will have further ones before the statements are adopted.
 
The label statements may be added to pesticide lables within one or two
years.  Comments on the proposal being published in the Federal
Register for public comment may be addressed to Jim Bach, Washington
Department of Agriculture, Box 42560, Olympia, Washington
98504-2560, phone #306/902-2094.  Also one can correspond with Jim
Downing, Office of Pesticide Programs, USEPA phone #703/308-8641
or fax 703/308-8369.
 
Proposed statement #1--
 
This product is toxic to bees exposed to direct contact.  During daylight
hours, do not allow this product to come in contact with, either directly
or through drift, blooming crops or blooming weeds that are foraged by
domestic honey bees, unless used in accordance with a program specific
to your state or tribe for the protection of bees.  Do not allow this
product to come in contact with bee hives at any time.
 
Proposed statement#2--
 
This product is toxic to bees exposed to direct contact.  Do not allow this
product to come in contact with, either directly or through drift,
blooming crops or blooming weeds that are foraged by domestic honey
bees, unless used in accordance with a program specific to your state or
tribe for the protection of bees.  Do not allow this product to come in
contact with bee hives at any time
 
 
Tom Sanford