The NY Birds and Bees Protection Act, enacted in 2023, is phasing out many uses of neonicotinoid insecticides including some seed treatments and uses on outdoor ornamental plants and turf.
Concerning ornamental plants, as of 12/31/2024 the law limits outdoor ornamental uses (except agricultural production) of dinotefuran-containing insecticides to invasive species control on woody plants or under a written order from the DEC to address an environmental emergency. (Dinotefuran products include Safari, Transtect, Dinocide, Zylam, all allowed in NY only for certain uses under 24(c) labels.)
Starting 12/31/2026, use of imidacloprid-containing insecticides (Merit, Mallet, Bandit, Zenith, Criterion, Xytect, GrubEx Pro, ImidaStar, Ima-Jet, etc.) on outdoor ornamental plants and turf will be limited to controlling invasive species on woody plants or under a DEC written order. (Note: the law also includes the active ingredients thiamethoxam and clothianidin which have no outdoor ornamental landscape or turf uses in NY State.)
As the restrictions take effect, applicators using neonicotinoids under a DEC order or for treating invasive species on woody plants must take a DEC-approved neonicotinoid course annually and maintain a record of this course for three years. (Agricultural producers using neonicotinoids to produce ornamental plants or sod do not have to take the training.) Click here for the approved course.
Click here to read the full text of the law.