title: Neonicotinoids and bees: The case of the European regulatory risk assessment.
abstract: Neonicotinoid insecticides are systemic pesticides authorised in Europe since 1991. From their introduction on the market, they have received significant attention from the scientific community, particularly regarding the assessment of lethal and sublethal effects on bees. The availability of scientific evidence alongside some concerns raised on the bee health led to the development of more articulate risk assessment methodologies for pesticides. To support the European Commission in its decision-making process, since 2012 EFSA has been requested to evaluate the risk to bees posed by the exposure to neonicotinoids. The outcome of the EFSA evaluations has been used by risk managers to revise the approval conditions of the substances clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam and to impose severe restrictions on their use. Meanwhile, a number of new studies have been carried out. EFSA is evaluating these data in order to further support the decision-making process with updated scientific assessments.
authors.affiliation: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Pesticides Unit, Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy. Electronic address: domenica.auteri@efsa.europa.eu.
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Auteri
authors.affiliation: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Pesticides Unit, Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.affiliation: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Pesticides Unit, Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barmaz
authors.affiliation: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Pesticides Unit, Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ippolito
authors.affiliation: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Pesticides Unit, Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Linguadoca
authors.affiliation: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Pesticides Unit, Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Tunde
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Molnar
authors.affiliation: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Pesticides Unit, Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.affiliation: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Pesticides Unit, Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Csaba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Szentes
authors.affiliation: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Pesticides Unit, Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Benedicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vagenende
authors.affiliation: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Pesticides Unit, Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000502:physiology*; D058735:Environmental Policy; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D005060:Europe; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D000073943:Neonicotinoids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007306:Insecticides; D000073943:Neonicotinoids
keywords: Bees; EU risk assessment; Neonicotinoids