Virtual workshop - 5 October 2022

Following the invitation from DG SANTE and EFSA, risk managers and risk assessors from 22 Member States, Norway and Switzerland, as well as stakeholders participated in the virtual workshop review of the EFSA Guidance on the risk assessment of plant protection products on bees (Apis mellifera, Bombus spp, and solitary bees).

DG SANTE and EFSA welcomed the participants and underlined the huge work done before launching the public consultation of the draft revised Bee Guidance Document (Bee GD), which ended on 3 October 2022. They recalled that this workshop was to discuss the comments submitted during this consultation on the draft revised Bee GD.

EFSA presented the mandated work as well as the main differences to the 2013 Bee GD and informed that the public consultation resulted in about 1500 comments, mostly from Member States experts. EFSA informed furthermore about the next steps to finalise the Guidance Document in spring 2023.

Presentation by EFSA:

After the presentations Member States representing the northern, central and southern zone and representatives from industry, farmers and NGOs could share their views and comments.

• Presentation Northern Zone:
• Presentation Central Zone:
• Presentation Southern Zone:
• Presentation Crop Life Europe jointly with Euroseeds and International Biocontrol Manufacturers (IBMA):
• Presentation Copa-Cogeca (Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations-General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives):
• Presentation Beelife jointly with PAN (Pesticide Action Network), Apimondia and Pollinis:

The discussion after the presentations was summarised by EFSA at the end of the workshop.

EFSA gave an overview of the next steps with the Bee GD and noted the need for further dialogues and/or workshops for case studies and study protocol designs, which will be considered after the finalisation of the GD. EFSA furthermore announced a calculator tool.

DG SANTE thanked all participants for the good exchange of views and informed them it intends to update the Standing Committee on Plants, Animal Food and Feed at its next meeting on 13/14 October 2022.