Pesticide Evaluation & Pollinators

Under the EU pesticide approval processes, the risks posed to bees and other pollinators are subject to a risk assessment process based on scientific evidence.  Pesticides can be approved only if their use will result in a negligible exposure to bees, or if these substances are shown to have no unacceptable short-term or long-term effects on bee survival and/or development.  Where risks are determined in approved products, risk mitigation measures are established to reduce these risks. Some mitigation examples include not permitting the spraying of products during flowering periods and/or scheduling product application times to avoid peak bee foraging periods.

Pesticide Registration and Controls Divisions carry out scientific evaluations of pesticides and are involved in the further development of the EU pesticide approvals process.  The adoption of Integrated Pest Management practices under the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive will have benefits for pollinator abundance and diversity.  There is a need to find a sustainable balance between the protection of pollinators and the support of agricultural production.

Neonicotinoid Insecticides - FAQs (May 2018) (pdf 360Kb)