ECHA’s new guidance paves way for better protection of bees from biocides
ECHA/NR/24/05
The guidance helps companies and authorities assess the risks to bees from biocidal active substances and products. It is part of wider EU initiatives that aim to reverse pollinator decline by 2030 and preserve biodiversity.
Helsinki, 14 February 2024 – ECHA’s guidance document presents an approach to assess the risks of biocides to honey bees, bumble bees and solitary bees, based on the latest scientific knowledge. It addresses uses of products such as insecticides and acaricides (product-type 18). Substances in these products may, for example, harm the bees’ nervous system and weaken their immune system, so that they are more susceptible to diseases.
The guidance will assist companies applying for active substance approvals or product authorisations under the EU’s Biocidal Products Regulation to conduct the risk assessment for their applications. It also explains the guiding principles for authorities to evaluate applications and to conclude on a biocidal product’s compliance with the authorisation conditions.
Peter van der Zandt, ECHA’s Director for Risk Management said:
“Certain chemicals used in products such as insecticides have been identified as a cause for decline in pollinator populations alongside climate change and habitat loss. This guidance will take companies and authorities one step closer to better protecting bees, that are essential for people and the planet.”
ECHA will host a webinar on the guidance on 5 March from 11:00 to 13:00 Helsinki time. During the event, experts involved in preparing the document will give an overview of its content and respond to questions from participants.
The European Commission and EU Member States will decide at a later stage when the guidance needs to be applied in the assessment of biocides.
Background
In 2019, the European Commission requested ECHA to develop a guidance for assessing how biocides exposure affects arthropod pollinators, including bees. This has been done as part of actions under the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the Pollinators Initiative. The current guidance focuses only on bees due to the lack of data on non-bee pollinators.
The guidance was developed together with a group of experts from different Member States, and with support from stakeholder organisations. It is aligned with the guidance from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the risk assessment of plant protection products on bees, published in May 2023.
Further information
Guidance to assess the risks to bees from the use of biocides
Webinar on 5 March: Getting familiar with ECHA's guidance to assess risks of biocides to bees
Topical page on biocides
European Commission: Protection of bees
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Pesticides and bees, guidance review
Press contact: Hanna-Kaisa Torkkeli, press@echa.europa.eu, +358 50 416 8585
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Purpose
The European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) new guidance is designed to provide a framework for companies and authorities to assess the risks of biocidal active substances and products on bees. This guidance aims to support the EU’s initiatives to reverse pollinator decline by 2030 and preserve biodiversity.
The document presents an approach to evaluate the risks of biocides on honey bees, bumble bees, and solitary bees based on the latest scientific knowledge. It addresses the potential harm caused by certain chemicals used in products such as insecticides and acaricides (product-type 18) that may weaken the immune system of bees and make them more susceptible to diseases.
The guidance will assist companies applying for active substance approvals or product authorizations under the EU’s Biocidal Products Regulation to conduct risk assessments for their applications. It also explains the guiding principles for authorities to evaluate applications and determine a biocidal product’s compliance with authorization conditions.
Effects on Industry
The new guidance is expected to have several effects on industries, including:
- Companies involved in the production and application of biocides will need to reassess their products’ risks to bees.
- Authorities responsible for regulating biocides will require companies to provide information about their products’ potential impact on pollinators.
- The guidance may lead to changes in product formulations or usage recommendations to minimize harm to bees.
The EU’s Biocidal Products Regulation requires companies to conduct risk assessments and demonstrate compliance with authorization conditions. The new guidance provides a framework for these evaluations, which will become more comprehensive and accurate.
Relevant Stakeholders
The following stakeholders are relevant to this update:
- Companies producing and applying biocides
- Authorities responsible for regulating biocides (e.g., national authorities, the European Commission)
- Environmental organizations focused on pollinator protection
- Consumers who may be indirectly affected by changes in product formulations or usage recommendations
Next Steps
To comply with this update, companies will need to:
- Review their products’ potential impact on bees based on the new guidance.
- Update risk assessments and product labeling as necessary.
- Provide information about their products’ potential harm to pollinators when applying for active substance approvals or product authorizations.
Authorities responsible for regulating biocides should familiarize themselves with the guidance and ensure that companies comply with its requirements. Environmental organizations may want to monitor changes in product formulations or usage recommendations to assess their effectiveness in protecting pollinators.
Any Other Relevant Information
The European Commission requested ECHA to develop a guidance for assessing how biocide exposure affects arthropod pollinators, including bees, as part of actions under the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the Pollinators Initiative. The current guidance focuses on bees due to the lack of data on non-bee pollinators.
The guidance was developed together with a group of experts from different Member States and supported by stakeholder organizations. It is aligned with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidance on risk assessment of plant protection products on bees, published in May 2023.
ECHA will host a webinar on March 5 to introduce the guidance and provide an overview of its content. During this event, experts involved in preparing the document will respond to questions from participants.
