ECHA Publishes Guidance to Protect Bees from Biocides

On 14 February 2024, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published a comprehensive guidance document (Guidance on the assessment of risks to bees from the use of biocides) aimed at improving the protection of bees from the adverse effects of biocidal active substances and products. In line with broader European Union initiatives to reverse the decline of pollinators by 2030 and to promote biodiversity, the guidance provides a strategic approach to assessing risks to honey bees, bumble bees, and solitary bees based on the latest scientific evidence.

Addressing Bee-Specific Risks in Biocides

The guidance specifically addresses the use of products such as insecticides and acaricides (product type 18), recognising that substances in these products can negatively impact the nervous and immune systems of bees. This can make bees more susceptible to disease and contribute to the decline of pollinator populations.

Guiding Companies and Authorities in Biocide Assessments

Companies seeking active substance approvals or product authorisations under the EU’s Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) will find the guidance instrumental in conducting rigorous risk assessments for their applications. In addition, the document provides guidance principles to authorities to help them assess applications and determine whether a biocidal product complies with the authorisation conditions.

Peter van der Zandt, ECHA’s Director for Risk Management, emphasised the importance of the guidance in addressing the decline in pollinator populations: “This guidance will take companies and authorities one step closer to better protecting bees, that are essential for people and the planet.”

The European Commission and EU Member States are expected to decide at a later stage on the timeline for the application of the guidance in the assessment of biocides.

Background

ECHA developed this guidance in response to a request from the European Commission in 2019, as part of actions under the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Pollinators Initiative. The guidance, which focuses on bees due to data limitations for non-bee pollinators, was developed in collaboration with experts from different Member States and was supported by stakeholder organisations. It is in line with the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) guidance on the risk assessment of plant protection products on bees, published in May 2023.

The full text of the ‘Guidance on the assessment of risks to bees from the use of biocides’ is available here.