The European Commission has requested the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to organise an open call for data in order to collect new scientific information as regards the risk to bees from the neonicotinoid pesticide active substances clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid applied as seed treatments and granules in the EU in accordance with Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and in the context of Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 485/2013 amended the conditions for approval of the three active substances, all belonging to the group of neonicotinoids, for use in plant protection products. In particular, the uses as seed treatment, soil treatment and pre-flowering applications of plant protection products containing clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid have been prohibited for crops attractive to bees and for cereals, except for uses in greenhouses, for winter cereals and post-flowering applications. The measures were taken following the previous EFSA assessments of the risk to bees from these substances (EFSA Journal 2013; 11(1): 3066, 3067, 3068). In accordance with recital 16 of Regulation (EU) No 485/2013, within two years from the date of entry into force of that Regulation, the European Commission foresees to initiate without undue delay a review of the new scientific information received. For this purpose, following the European Commission request, on 25 May 2015 EFSA launched an open call for data. The target audience of the open call were all interested parties, such as national competent authorities in the area of pesticides, interested organizations, research institutions, industry and other interested parties etc. The scope of the open call was to collect all information on bees (honeybees, bumble bees and solitary bees) related to the three neonicotinoid substances and relevant for the uses as seed treatments and granules. Governmental bodies, non-governmental organisations, producer associations, private companies, universities, research institutions, and few individuals have submitted information in response to this call that has closed on 30 September 2015.

This technical report containing all data submitted under the open call has been prepared by EFSA. As a second step, upon receipt of a follow up mandate from the European Commission, EFSA will undertake a review of the data resulted from the open call and will provide conclusions concerning an updated risk assessment for bees.