The common insecticide imidacloprid, and the related active ingredients acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, and thiamethoxam, belong to the pesticide group neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids have been linked to the decline in honey bee and other pollinator populations. To address these concerns, the California legislature recently put into law AB 363.
Starting January 1, 2025, neonicotinoid pesticides in California for non-agricultural outdoor use will only be available for sale at licensed pest control dealers and limited for possession and use by certified pesticide applicators. Sale of neonicotinoids in retail nurseries and garden centers and the possession or use of these pesticides by unlicensed applicators will no longer be allowed.
Currently, almost 150 pesticide products containing one of these ingredients are registered in California for use on ornamental plants. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) is reevaluating these pesticides in terms of their effects on pollinators, aquatic insects, and human health.
The European Union, Canada, Maine, New Jersey, and several other states have already banned or restricted these pesticides for non-agricultural uses. Limiting lawn and garden neonicotinoid uses to trained professionals is intended to eliminate significant pollution from these pesticides in urban and suburban areas, protecting pollinators, aquatic organisms, and human health.
The new law does not apply to indoor neonicotinoid pesticide products like ant baits, or veterinary products, such as flea and tick treatments for pets.
For more information about this law, see CDPR's announcement https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/registration/canot/2024/ca2024-18.pdf.
[Originally featured in the Fall 2024 edition of the Home and Garden Pest Newsletter.]