EFSA & Restrictions For Neonicotinoids

EFSA: no restrictions for neonicotinoids despite posing "a number of risks" to honey bees

On 16 January, EFSA published its report concerning the impact of neonicotinoids on honey bees. While in its report EFSA highlights a "number of risks" posed to bees by pollinators from neonicotinoids, it has not called for a ban or restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids and points out that, due to shortcomings in available data, their scientists were unable to finalise some of the risk assessments, thereby limiting the certainty of their findings.

Over the past decade or so there have been numerous reports of declines in bee colonies, with many speculating that this could be due to the adverse effects of intensive agriculture and insecticide use. In response to the increased bee mortality rates, the European Commission asked EFSA to investigate and to assess the risks of neonicotinoid insecticides which are among the most commonly used crop pesticides worldwide. (see our November 2013 Bulletin contribution on this).

EFSA's review sought to determine the risks associated with three types of neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam) and focused on three main routes of exposure: exposure from residues in pollen and nectar in the flowers of treated plants; exposure from dust produced during sowing of treated seeds; and exposure from residues in guttation fluid (i.e. sap) produced by treated plants.

Despite findings that "a high risk was indicated or could not be excluded" in relation to adverse effects on honey bees, EFSA also concluded that it was possible to identify a "low risk" for certain authorised uses of neonicotinoids. Where risk assessments were able to be completed, conclusions for each of the three neonicotinoids are as follows:

Exposure from pollen and nectar: use is acceptable on any crops not attractive to honey bees; Exposure from dust: risks to bees was either indicated or could not be excluded (but with some exceptions: use on sugar beet, crops planted in glasshouses and for the use of some granules is acceptable); Exposure from guttation: the only risk assessment completed was for maize treated with thiamethoxam for which an acute effect on honey bees was indicated. However, EFSA's scientists found that despite these risks, there was insufficient data to conclude there was any link between the use of neonicotinoids and "bee colony collapse disorder," a key contributor to increases in bee colony decline.

Lack of...