Sulfoxaflor: ANSES examines new data available

As regards the risk to bees, in the framework of the approval of the active substance at European level, the elements assessed by EFSA, with regard to acute and chronic risk to the bee and the colony, do not demonstrate an unacceptable risk when the exposure of pollinators to the substance is limited by appropriate management measures.

Restrictive conditions of use to prevent risks to bees

The two authorized phytopharmaceutical products CLOSER and TRANSFORM are intended for use in the treatment of aerial parts on several specialized crops and on straw cereals (wheat, spelled, triticale, barley) and flax. They are prohibited on large crops that are attractive to pollinators. The evaluation conducted by ANSES in the framework of the European regulation n ° 1107/2009 made it possible to conclude to their effectiveness and the absence of risks for the human health, the fauna, the flora and the environment, for the proposed uses and under the recommended conditions of use. However, the marketing authorizations are subject to strong restrictions of the conditions of use in order to protect bees and other pollinators. These restrictions include the prohibition of the use of the products 5 days before and during the flowering and the periods of production of exudates, or when weeds in flower are present.

New data to evaluate

The authorization of the active substance Sulfoxaflor at European level in 2015, however, provided that confirmatory data would be produced by the applicant in order to refine, if necessary, the conditions of use provided for, with regard to certain risks for honey bees. and other pollinators. These data have been transmitted to the rapporteur Member State responsible for the evaluation of the active substance and are now available. Entered today by the Minister of State, Minister of the Ecological and Solidarity Transition and by the Minister of Agriculture and Food, ANSES will evaluate without delay these new data to determine to what extent they are likely to to change the marketing authorizations for the two CLOSER and TRANSFORM products.

In addition, with regard to the first placing on the market in France of this new substance, the Agency is mobilizing its phytopharmacovigilance network in order to be able to establish a possible link between reports of losses or losses of bee colonies and the use of sulfoxaflor products. The objective of phytopharmacovigilance is indeed to detect as soon as possible the signals that may lead to taking measures to prevent or limit the risks related to plant protection products.