FRANCE – ANSES: Update of the Note on National Data and Risk Assessment Requirements for Honey Bees and Other Pollinating Insects

Published by Adrien Margerit at 16 February 2026

ANSES released an update to its note specifying the national requirements in terms of data and risk assessment for bees and other pollinators, applicable both in general and in the case of uses on flowering attractive crops.

The main changes concern the following points:

The risk assessments shall now be conducted according to the EFSA guidance document (2013). Anses recommendations from referral 2019-SA-0097 (in French) shall be followed.
The risk assessments will have to be conducted according to the revised EFSA guidance document (2023) at the time of its entry into force, at the latest.
In consequence, the reference to the guidance documents SANCO/10329 (2002) and EPPO (2010) were removed from Anses note.
The acute contact toxicity test on mason bee (osmia), for which a standardised protocol was validated in June 2025 — OECD 254, will be required, as complementary data to support uses on flowering attractive crops, for dossier submitted from 1st September 2026.
Besides, as soon as a standardised protocol will be available for a novel test, a study conducted according to this protocol will have to be included in future submission, as soon as possible, and at the latest 2 years after the protocol issue date.
It is reminded that for all studies with analytical verifications, the analytical methods and their validation shall be summarised and the reports included in the dossier submitted.
For plant protection products (PPP) with microbial active substances, it is indicated that the risk assessment shall be based on a margin of safety calculation as explained in the document EFSA (2025). The risk assessment for toxins and secondary metabolites of concern have to be conducted according to EFSA (2013).
For adjuvants, the reference to the old Anses note about the assessment of adjuvants was removed. It is now clarified that the same requirements, in terms of data and risk assessment, as those for PPP, apply.

To download (in French):

Anses Note as regards the risk assessment of plant protection products and adjuvants for bees and other pollinators in the framework of the European Regulation and of the new French “Bees” Order of 20 November 2021 – Version 2 (13 February 2026)

See also our previous articles:

FRANCE – ANSES: Update of the Note on French Provisions Concerning the Protection of Bees

FRANCE – ANSES: Notes on the New Provisions for the Protection of Bees

FRANCE – Anses: Recommendations for the Risk Assessment for Bees and Other Pollinators

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