Quebec has moved to heavily regulate a pesticide linked to the decline in the bee population.

Sprayed over crops or coated on seeds, neonicotinoids are absorbed by plants, end up in the soil and are picked up by animals and insects, including bees.

“The neonic has an action on the nervous system of bees. It's really disturbing behaviour. The bees can leave their hive and are not coming back to the same point,” explained Alexandre Beaudoin, an apiarist from Miel Montreal.

Neonicotinoids have been banned in the European Union since 2013, however the United Kingdom suspended the ban in July. Quebec joins Ontario as two Canadian provinces that have forbidden the product.

“In any type of agriculture in Quebec, before you use any type of harmful pesticides, whether it's neonics or other harmful pesticides, you will need to have a written commentary and advice from a certified expert,” explained Environment Minister David Heurtel.

Environmentalists say those exceptions will be few and far between.

“When we talk to scientists, when we talk to experts in the agricultural field, they're basically telling us that in 95 per cent of cases, the use of these pesticides is not justified and therefore this is very close to a ban,” said Equiterre Executive Director Sidney Ribaux.                

Despite the concerns, some organizations are pleased there won’t be an outright ban on the chemicals. 

“A flea treatment on a dog or a cockroach treatment in a home. How is that going to adversely affect the beekeepers? The answer is that it isn't,” said Sean Rollo, vice-president of the Canadian Pest Management Association.

The move also includes tripling the number of pesticides now banned in urban settings, including gardens and lawns.

“People don't use them properly, and this puts children at risk,” said Ribaux. “So this is really good news that the products we are buying in stores, we can now be confident that they're safe.           

Beaudoin said he thinks more can be done.

“We would like to see what they are going to do with other molecules. They were talking about the most dangerous ones, but what about the others? They are still dangerous,” he said.

The government is working with farmers and other groups and will provide new guidelines next summer.