MUST-B. EU efforts for the development of a Holistic approach for the Risk Assessment on MUltiple STressors in Bees

Transcription

1 MUST-B EU efforts for the development of a Holistic approach for the Risk Assessment on MUltiple STressors in Bees F. Verdonck and the EFSA Bee Task Force coordinated by A. Rortais Advisory Group working group meeting on bee health,

2 HOLISTIC RISK ASSESSMENT APPROACH FOR BEES In the environment, bees are exposed to multiple stressors (physical, chemical, biological & nutritional stressors). The way these stressors affect bees and contribute to the current observed trends of population declines is not well understood, neither are the underlying mechanisms which remain complex (multiple combinations of interactions) At EFSA, several Units and Panels work on bee issues: Animal & Plant Health, GMOs, Pesticides, Assessment Methodology Support and the Scientific Committee & Emerging Risks (SCER) Unit In 2012, a multidisciplinary Bee Task Force was established in EFSA (with the above Units) to develop a holistic approach to the environmental risk assessment of multiple stressors in bees. 2

3 MULTIDISCIPLINARY BEE TASK FORCE AT EFSA Bee Task Force: terms of reference and deliverables Review the work in the area of bee health carried by ESFA, EC and MS «Inventory of EFSA s activities on bees» (Nov. 2012) Scientific colloquium «Towards holistic approaches to the risk assessment of multiple stressors in bees» (May 2013) Identify data and knowledge gaps Make recommendations for future research development, activities and coordination of work at EU level. «Towards an integrated environmental risk assessment of multiple stressors on bees: review of research projects in Europe, knowledge gaps and recommendations» (Jan 2014) 3

4 RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BEE TASK FORCE (2014) Main recommendations Consolidate the risk assessment on multiple stressors in bees Explore new methods (modelling) to further address multiple stressors/exposures and effects at colony and landscape levels Expand the approach to other species (e.g. aquatic organisms) and other functions of the ecosystem (decomposition, soil nutrient cycling, pest regulation, water regulation, etc.) Enhance collaborations and knowledge sharing between EFSA, EC, MS Specific recommendations Monitoring: EU-wide, long-term, several bee species Define a baseline for what is meant by a healthy colony Testing methods: calibrated tools, field methods to assess colony activity and forager mortality, validated tests for sublethal effects, validated tests fon non-apis Chemical residues: including metabolites, in different bee matrices, multi-residual techniques, Low LoD, LoQ Food intakes for different bee species, age groups, casts, sexes Multiple exposures: data, mechanisms and methods to study interactions: cumulative, synergistic, antagonist effects Toxicity data: dose-response relationships, species sensitivity distributions, toxicokinetics & toxicodynamics,. Modelling techniques: population dynamics/omics EU/Int. expert group, network, open-access database (for RA on multiple stressors in bees) 4

5 MUST-B: EU EFFORTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HOLISTIC APPROACH FOR THE RISK ASSESSMENT ON MULTIPLE STRESSORS IN BEES MUST-B project: terms of reference To develop a holistic approach on the risk assessment on multiple stressors in bees to be formalised through an Opinion of the Scientific Committee. Scientific opinions are to be produced through the analysis of specific data sets as they become available through outsourcing and other activities. To produce annual updates to the technical report on the inventory of EFSA activities in the area of bee health. 5

6 MUST-B: EU EFFORTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HOLISTIC APPROACH FOR THE RISK ASSESSMENT ON MULTIPLE STRESSORS IN BEES MUST-B action plan The main actors of the programme are an internal Bee Task Force (EFSA staff) coordinated by SCER and a Standing Working Group (external experts) of the Scientific Committee, in collaboration with an EU Bee Initiative and stakeholders. Tasks of the Bee Task Force To monitor, collect (internally and through outsourcing), assess and present evidence to the SWG. To produce an annual technical report on the inventory of EFSA s activities in the area of bee health. To report the work on bee health to the EFSA Scientific Committee and the EU Bee Initiative To organise a series of consultations with concerned EFSA Panels (i.e. ALPHA and PRAS), EU-Agencies (i.e. EMA and EEA), and the large Public on the draft final Scientific Opinion. 6

7 MUST-B: EU EFFORTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HOLISTIC APPROACH FOR THE RISK ASSESSMENT ON MULTIPLE STRESSORS IN BEES MUST-B action plan Tasks of the SWG : To produce scientific opinions on the assessment on the various sets of evidence collected by the Bee TF and EFSA contractors To provide support in defining outsourcing needs to support the development of the holistic approach, and for assessing the outcome of such outsourcing. To produce a final Scientific Opinion on the holistic RA on multiple stressors in bees. Collaboration with EU Bee Initiative and Stakeholders: Aim: exchange of information and views How: interactive website, meetings, workshops, conferences and scientific events (eg Apimondia, Eurbee, Euroscience Open Forum, EXPO 2015) Who: EC Bee Interservice group, EEA, EMA, EURL, National Food Safety Agencies and National Research Centers, Pesticide Steering Network, EFSA Advisory Forum, etc. 7

8 MUST-B PROJECT Evidence 1: EPILOBEE data analysis Evidence 3: Systematic Literature Review on multiple stressors Standing Working Group providing scientific support & acting as a steering committee and supported by Bee Task Force Evidence 2: Bee TF Scientific Report/ Inventory + ANSES reports on Bee coexposures, etc. Model 1: BEEHAVE 1 Model 2: DEB-TOX Project 1: Baseline for a healthy honeybee colony Project 2: Tool & method calibration Model 3: BEEHAVE 2 & 3 Project 3: Multifactorial honeybee colony survey Stakeholders & EU Bee Initiative Consultations with EFSA Panels, EU agencies and the large public EFSA Scientific Opinion on the RA on multiple stressors in bees Regular check point where progress is assessed, information communicated and exchanged with International organisations and other stakeholedrs involved in RA and bee health Time

9 MUST-B ACTIVITIES IN FIELDS MENTIONED IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS (2014) OF THE BEE TASK FORCE Advisory Group working group meeting on bee health, Main recommendations Bee Task Force Consolidate the risk assessment on multiple stressors in bees Explore new methods (modelling) Expand the approach to other species Enhance collaborations and knowledge sharing Specific recommendations Bee Task Force Define a baseline for what is meant by a healthy colony Monitoring Testing methods Chemical residues Food intakes Multiple exposures Toxicity data Modelling techniques EU/Int. expert group, network, open-access database Actions not undertaken in MUST-B and where full support/development is required Actions undertaken in MUST-B and where partial support/development is required 9

10 Thank you for your attention Any suggestions for the MUST-B project? Any questions? 10