EFSA is to update its assessments of the risks to bees posed by three neonicotinoid pesticides, used to treat seed of plants.
The new evaluations of clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid were requested by the European Commission, which placed restrictions on the use of the substances in 2013 following assessments carried out by EFSA.
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The updated assessments, which will look at the use of the substances as seed treatments and granules, will be completed by January 2017. They will take into account any new data from studies, research and monitoring that has come to light since the previous assessments were carried out, in particular information submitted to EFSA following a call for data in 2015.
Last year EFSA confirmed that clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid were a risk to bees when used as foliar sprays.
Click here for the request for EFSA to evaluate risks to bees from clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid.