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An Act To Protect Populations of Bees and Other Pollinators
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA c. 417  is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 417
LABELING AND ADVERTISING OF PLANTS
§ 2441. Pollinator protection
 
1.  Definition.     As used in this section, "insecticide lethal to pollinators" means a product that has a detectable level of systemic insecticide that:
 
A.  Has a pollinator protection box on the label; or
 
B.  Has a precautionary statement concerning pollinators, bees or honeybees in the environmental hazards section of the insecticide product label.
 
"Insecticide lethal to pollinators" includes, but is not limited to, the neonicotinoid class of insecticides that affect the central nervous system of pollinators and may cause pollinator paralysis or death.
 
2.  Prohibition.     A person may not label or advertise an annual plant, bedding plant or other plant, plant material or nursery stock as beneficial to pollinators if the annual plant, bedding plant or other plant, plant material or nursery stock has been treated with an insecticide lethal to pollinators.
 
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits labeling or advertising an annual plant, bedding plant or other plant, plant material or nursery stock as beneficial to pollinators if the plant or material has been treated with an insecticide absorbed by a plant that makes the plant lethal to pollinators.