New tool to support biocide risk assessment for bees
New tool to support biocide risk assessment for bees
A new online tool, B-risk (a bee risk calculator for biocides), is helping companies, researchers, and regulatory authorities assess the potential risks biocidal products may pose to bees. It has been specifically designed to support compliance with the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) 2024 Bee Guidance, which applied after the 1st of February 2026.
Developed through a collaborative “one substance, one assessment” approach, the tool builds on the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) original B-risk model, which was initially created for plant protection products. It has since been tailored to address the unique characteristics of biocidal products, particularly insecticides.
B-risk enables users to carry out risk assessments in line with the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) (EU) No 528/2012, with a strong emphasis on safeguarding bee populations and preserving biodiversity across Europe. The tool is hosted on the EFSA R4EU portal.
Key benefits include tailored exposure assessments specifically designed for biocides, a user-friendly, step-by-step interface that simplifies complex calculations, alignment with EFSA’s 2023 Bee Guidance for pesticides, ensuring scientific consistency and an integrated user manual that guides users through each stage of the assessment.
With the February 2026 compliance deadline now in effect, industry professionals are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this official tool to ensure their product assessments meet the latest regulatory standards.
At Kerona, we support applicants in navigating complex compliance requirements. For assistance with the BPR in the EU and the UK the Kerona Regulatory team can be contacted at info@kerona.ie