Evaluation of the data on clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam for the updated risk assessment to bees for seed treatments and granules in the EU

The European Commission has requested the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to perform an updated risk assessment as regards the risk to bees from the uses of the three neonicotinoid pesticides active substances clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam applied as seed treatments and granules. In performing this evaluation, in accordance with Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and considering recital 16 of Regulation (EU) No 485/2013; EFSA has been asked to undertake a review of the new data relevant to the uses under consideration taking into account in particular, the new relevant data collected in the framework of the open call for data organized by EFSA in 2015 and any other new data from studies, research and monitoring activities. EFSA has established a specific methodology for the evaluation of the available data. A full description of such methodology and the results of its application are reported.