B-risk for Biocides: A New Tool to Strengthen Bee Risk Assessments in Europe
A new online tool developed for biocidal products — B-risk for biocides — now enables companies, scientists, and authorities to assess the potential risks of biocides to bees with greater scientific accuracy and transparency.
The tool aligns fully with ECHA’s 2024 Bee Guidance, which will apply to biocidal product submissions from February 2026.
How B-risk for Biocides Was Developed
Announced on 2 December 2025 in Helsinki, the B-risk tool was created under the “one substance, one assessment” approach.
It extends the EFSA B-risk tool, originally designed for plant protection products, and adapts it to the specific needs of biocidal products — especially insecticides.
This updated version incorporates biocide-specific exposure parameters required for accurate assessment under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR).
Key Benefits of the New B-risk Tool
Biocide-specific exposure assessment
User-friendly interface that performs complex calculations automatically
Full alignment with EFSA’s 2023 Bee Guidance
An integrated user manual providing clear guidance at every stage
The tool supports EU-wide efforts to protect pollinators and preserve biodiversity.
How to Access the Tool
B-risk for biocides is available via ECHA’s Support pages.
From there, users are redirected to EFSA’s R4EU platform, where the tool is hosted.
No installation is required — it runs online.
R4EU registration is necessary for access.
EFSA’s terms of use must be accepted.
Background
ECHA published its Bee Guidance for biocides in February 2024.
This guidance provides a structured approach to evaluate the risks of biocidal active substances and products to bees.
It forms part of broader EU initiatives aimed at:
reversing pollinator decline,
strengthening environmental protection,
and supporting biodiversity across Europe.
The guidance applies to new biocidal product applications submitted from February 2026 onward.
It does not apply to active substances already in the review programme.
General Assessment
B-risk for biocides offers a scientifically consistent, transparent, and easy-to-use framework for evaluating the potential risks that biocidal products may pose to bees.
As companies and authorities prepare for the upcoming Bee Guidance requirements, the tool is expected to provide significant advantages through its scientific robustness and user-friendly design.