The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has recently announced the launch of a new online tool named "B-risk" for biocides. This tool allows companies, scientists, and regulators to assess the risks posed by biocides to bees. Its release is designed to support the implementation of ECHA’s Guidance to assess the risks to bees from the use of biocides (published in 2024), which is set to officially enter into force in February 2026.

I. Background

As the European Union strengthens its efforts to protect biodiversity and pollinators, ECHA published the guidance on bee risk assessment for biocides in February 2024. This initiative is part of a broader EU strategy to reverse the decline in pollinator populations and preserve biodiversity.

To support the practical implementation of this guidance, ECHA developed the B-risk tool in collaboration with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) under the "one substance, one assessment" regulatory framework. This tool is an expanded version of EFSA’s existing risk assessment tool for plant protection products (pesticides), specifically adapted to meet the unique requirements of biocidal products, particularly insecticides.

II. Core Features and Key Content

According to the ECHA announcement (ECHA/NR/25/41) and related technical documentation, the "B-risk for biocides" tool is hosted on EFSA’s R4EU platform. It is accessible online upon user registration and requires no software installation. Its core features include:

· Targeted Exposure Assessment: Specifically designed to conduct exposure assessments for scenarios unique to biocidal products.

· Automated Calculations: Features a user-friendly interface capable of automatically performing complex risk calculations.

· Scientific Alignment: Maintains consistency with EFSA’s 2023 guidance on bee risk assessment for pesticides, ensuring shared scientific principles across regulatory domains.

· Integrated Guidance: Includes a user manual that provides clear instructions at every stage of the assessment process.

III. Impact Analysis and Recommendations

1. Critical Timeline

ECHA has explicitly stated that the 2024 bee risk assessment guidance will apply to biocide assessment applications submitted from February 2026 onwards. Consequently, utilizing this methodology for risk assessment will become a mandatory compliance requirement for companies planning to submit applications for relevant biocidal products (especially those involving insecticidal uses) in the near future.

Note: While the guidance and tool apply to new biocidal product authorization applications, they do not apply to active substances currently included in the review programme.

2. Compliance Advice

Given that the relevant guidance will take effect in February 2026, stakeholders are advised to take the following measures:

（1）Substance Screening: Review ongoing projects. If the substance is part of the existing review programme, the use of this tool is not currently required. However, for new active substances or new product authorizations submitted after February 2026, its use is mandatory.

（2）Data Analysis: The B-risk tool emphasizes "biocide-specific exposure assessment." Companies should examine their current projects to verify if their specific use scenarios are covered by the tool and proactively collect relevant data.

Conclusion

The release of the B-risk tool marks a significant step toward standardization in the environmental risk assessment of biocides within the EU. As the February 2026 compliance deadline approaches, industry practitioners should fully utilize this official tool to ensure product assessments align with the latest regulatory requirements, thereby safeguarding smooth market access.