Pesticide made from bee RNA no longer needs safety limits in honey

US environmental regulators have removed the requirement for safety limits on a new pesticide made from bee RNA. This means the pesticide can be used on crops without needing to establish a maximum permissible level in honey or honeycomb.

For decades, any new substance used on crops had to prove it wouldn't leave harmful residues in food. This rule change means a new class of pesticides, based on RNA, can skip that step for honey. It signals a shift in how regulators view the safety of these novel biological pesticides, potentially making it easier and faster for similar products to reach the market. This could open the door for more RNA-based treatments for pests.