Honeybee testing and risk assessment in ecotoxicology - current approaches and novel aspects

摘要

Current approaches and requirements for ecotoxicological testing and ri.-,k assessment on bees in Europe are reviewed and discussed, in particular in terms of their suitability to cover all possible aspects of risk which may be posed by pesticides tobees. Moreover, concerns on appropriateness of the existing systems are described, and selected novel approaches for testing and risk assessment are presented and discussed. Crucial points are that all testing methods suggested for implementation shouldbe appropriately validated, that sublethal endpoints only should be considered if their ecological significance is clearly proven, and that all testing and risk assessment approaches should be in line with the European Directive 91/414/EEC. An importantprinciple of this directive Is that higher tier tests will in any case of doubt always provide information superior and more reliable compared to laboratory studies. Given that tests performed are appropriately designed, the range of studies as referredto in Directive 91/414/EEC will fully cover any possible risk of pesticides to bees.