Advancing Environmental Risk Assessment: Key Findings from EFSA’s Non-Target Arthropod Studies

EFSA has published a set of scientific reports under the project AENEAS “Advancing the environmental risk assessment of non-target arthropods (NTAs) for plant protection products by accounting for the impact on ecosystem services and on ecological function.”

These publications provide critical knowledge, gaps regarding exposure kinetics, inter-species sensitivity, and dynamic modelling across key beneficial arthropod groups.

Key Scientific Insights & Project Outcomes

The experimental work on exposure was designed to establish a link between application rates  – concentration in environmental matrices – and concentration in the organisms, covering a wide range of PPPs and several NTA species with different traits defining exposure.

The experimental work on inter-species sensitivity was to gain knowledge on the inter-species sensitivity of representatives of the most vulnerable families of NTAs (key drivers for pest control and pollination) to PPPs.

How will these findings shape future EU regulation?

These publications provide the foundations to:
🔹 Define Specific Protection Goals (SPGs): To establish ecologically meaningful protection thresholds to protect ecosystem functions and beneficial organisms.
🔹 Support the Revision of the EFSA Terrestrial Guidance Document: To update the risk assessment scheme for non-target terrestrial arthropods (other than bees) through refined exposure pathways, realistic landscape modelling, and mechanistic toxicity frameworks.

➡️ Explore the full reports:

EN-10190 (Exposure): https://lnkd.in/eziRbiFv
EN-10191 (Sensitivity): https://lnkd.in/e9mWYQQG
EN-10192 (Final Synthesis): https://lnkd.in/eHSsRtnr

As usual, Staphyt would be delighted to support you in understanding the intricacies of the regulation and the ecotoxicological risk assessment. Feel free to ask !

Contact our team to discuss your project: contact@staphyt.com