The Environmental Risks of Neonicotinoid Pesticides (in Japanese)

Background: Updating risk awareness using the latest scientific research

Neonicotinoid pesticides are seen as a problem due to their impacts on bees.

While regulations are being put in place in other countries, awareness of the environmental risks of agricultural chemicals is low in Japan, and there are no regulations yet on the use of neonicotinoids.

EcoNetworks assisted with the English-to-Japanese translation of the report the Environmental Risks of Neonicotinoid Pesticides that was commissioned to the Sussex University in the UK.

Our approach: Discussion of special terminology in real time

This report collated and reviewed key scientific evidence (based on papers published since 2013) regarding studies on the impacts of neonicotinoids on non-target organisms.

The literature uses a large amount of special terminology, so it takes time and effort to research the materials from the client and the relevant expert organizations to do our translations.

Our approach was to discuss key terms and use Google spreadsheets to share the results of the translation team’s findings, then quickly decide on the best translations. At the same time we unified the terminology used in our translations.

Outcome: We expect our translations to help with decision making based on clear information

Timed with the announcement of the Japanese version of this report, Greenpeace also submitted a letter to the Japan’s Ministry of the Environment calling for proper regulation of harmful pesticides.

We expect there to be robust public debate and proper decisions made on this important issue affecting ecosystem conservation and agricultural safety.

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Press release:
The Environmental Risks of Neonicotinoid Pesticides
by Greenpeace International 12 January 2017

References – Trends in other countries:
European Union implements temporary ban on three types of neonicotinoids and one type of systemic pesticides starting in 2014, and total ban was expected in 2017.
In the United States, besides having mandatory labeling to indicate Class 4 neonicotinoids are harmful to bees, the state of Maryland passed legislation with a total ban on this pesticide, expected to take effect in 2018.