Environment Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 27 October 2011.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes have been made to pesticide risk assessment for pollinators test processes since the publication of her Department's report, “Are pesticide risk assessments for honeybees protective of other pollinators,” in 2008.
As pesticides are subject to a European regulatory regime, Ministers are keen that these issues are addressed through collaborative working across the international arena. Since this work was published, it has been considered in an international forum (the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) (SETAC) which is developing the pesticides risk assessment for pollinators (honeybees and non-Apis bees) with a focus on 'non-Apis bees'. This forum recognised that the risk assessment scheme for honeybees did not cover non-Apis bees, and that the risk assessment approaches, studies and associated trigger values need to be further developed. Work is also ongoing with the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD). on 'other pollinators' under the Pesticides Effects on Insect Pollinators (PEIP) initiative. Government scientists and officials are already actively engaged in these major international initiatives.
The new pesticides marketing Regulation (Regulation 1107/2009) introduces a requirement for consideration of the impact on biodiversity and the ecosystem as part of the approval criteria for active substances, as well as other new proposed data requirements. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are to produce revised guidance on aquatic ecotoxicology (including biodiversity consequences) by 2014. Other aspects of biodiversity will be addressed as relevant guidance (eg terrestrial ecotoxicology) is revised or developed by EFSA, and the SETAC and OECD work is expected to feed into this.
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