The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced on Friday 5 July the way in which it will revise its 2013 guidance document on risk assessment of pesticides on bees in the EU, in accordance with the mandate given to it by the European Commission in March.
Stakeholders and pesticide experts from Member States will be consulted regularly throughout the process and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will cooperate with EFSA in harmonising approaches to risk assessment for bees in the 'Biocides' and 'Pesticides' regulations, assures EFSA.
The first consultation will start in July. Stakeholders and Member State representatives will be asked for their views on the current guidance document.
Stakeholder feedback will be provided by EFSA's Ad Hoc Advisory Group, made up of stakeholder representatives. Member States will be consulted through EFSA’s existing Pesticides Steering Network.
Once the reactions have been gathered and analysed, the EFSA's Scientific Working Group will start its review. A full public consultation and workshop will take place when the document has been drafted. To consult EFSA's work plan in English: https://bit.ly/2S0xXkD (Aminata Niang)