United States

Environmental Protection 

Agency

Office of Chemical Safety

and Pollution Prevention

(7101)

EPA 712-C-017

January 2012

Ecological Effects

Test Guidelines

OCSPP 850.3040:

Field Testing for 

Pollinators
i

NOTICE

This guideline is one of a series of test guidelines established by the United States 

Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention 

(OCSPP) for use in testing pesticides and chemical substances to develop data for 

submission to the Agency under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (15 U.S.C. 2601, 

et seq.), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136, et 

seq.), and section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FFDCA) (21 U.S.C. 346a). 

Prior to April 22, 2010, OCSPP was known as the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 

Substances (OPPTS). To distinguish these guidelines from guidelines issued by other 

organizations, the numbering convention adopted in 1994 specifically included OPPTS as 

part of the guideline’s number. Any test guidelines developed after April 22, 2010 will use 

the new acronym (OCSPP) in their title.

The OCSPP harmonized test guidelines serve as a compendium of accepted scientific 

methodologies and protocols that are intended to provide data to inform regulatory decisions 

under TSCA, FIFRA, and/or FFDCA. This document provides guidance for conducting the 

test, and is also used by EPA, the public, and the companies that are subject to data 

submission requirements under TSCA, FIFRA, and/or the FFDCA. As a guidance 

document, these guidelines are not binding on either EPA or any outside parties, and the 

EPA may depart from the guidelines where circumstances warrant and without prior notice. 

At places in this guidance, the Agency uses the word “should.” In this guidance, the use of 

“should” with regard to an action means that the action is recommended rather than 

mandatory. The procedures contained in this guideline are strongly recommended for 

generating the data that are the subject of the guideline, but EPA recognizes that departures 

may be appropriate in specific situations. You may propose alternatives to the 

recommendations described in these guidelines, and the Agency will assess them for 

appropriateness on a case-by-case basis. 

For additional information about these test guidelines and to access these guidelines 

electronically, please go to http://www.epa.gov/ocspp and select “Test Methods & 

Guidelines” on the left side navigation menu. You may also access the guidelines in 

http://www.regulations.gov grouped by Series under Docket ID #s: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2009-

0150 through EPA-HQ-OPPT-2009-0159, and EPA-HQ-OPPT-2009-0576.
Page 1 of 4

OCSPP 850.3040: Field testing for pollinators.

(a) Scope—

(1) Applicability. This guideline is intended to be used to help develop data to submit to 

EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (15 U.S.C. 2601, et seq.), the 

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136, et seq.), and 

the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) (21 U.S.C. 346a).

(2) Background. The source materials used in developing this harmonized OCSPP test 

guideline include OPP 141-5 Field Testing for Pollinators (Pesticide Assessment 

Guidelines Subdivision L), and the Field Testing for Pollinators Standard Evaluation 

Procedure.

(b) Purpose. This guideline is intended for use in developing data on hazards to bees, under 

actual field conditions, of chemical substances and mixtures (“test chemicals” or “test 

substances”) subject to environmental effects test regulations. The Environmental Protection 

Agency will use data from this test in assessing the hazard to bees that a test substance may 

present in the environment. 

(c) Definitions. The definitions in OCSPP 850.3000 apply to this guideline.

(d) General Considerations. As this field test will be required only on a case-by-case basis and 

will be conducted in response to some specific problem, it may be designed to answer any 

number of questions concerning the hazard of the test substance to bees. These questions will be 

determined during consultation between the submitter and the Agency.

(e) Test standards―

(1) Test substance. The substance to be tested is the specific form of a chemical or 

mixture of chemicals that is used to develop the data. For pesticides, the substance to be 

tested is the end-use product. OCSPP 850.3000 lists the type of information that should 

be known about the test substance before testing, and discusses methods for preparation 

of test substances.

(2) Test organism. Testing will be conducted on the species of concern. Pollinators of 

economic importance in the United States include the honey bee (Apis mellifera), alfalfa 

leafcutting bee (Megachile rotundata), and alkali bee (Nomia melanderi).

(3) Test conditions. The test conditions for conducting an actual field test should 

resemble the conditions likely to be encountered under actual use of the product. 

Specifically, the test substance should be applied to the site at the rate, frequency, and 

method specified on the label. Information useful in developing a test protocol may be 

obtained from paragraphs (i)(1), (i)(2), and (i)(3) of this guideline. It should be noted, 

however, that any testing conducted to satisfy the field test pollinator data in Part 158 

should be preceded by consultation with the Agency.

(f) Tabular summary of test conditions. Test conditions, data quality objectives, and statistical 

study design will vary from field study to field study. Depending on the type of problem being 
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addressed, the field test may take any one of a number of forms. As such, this area does not lend 

itself to a detailed list of test conditions.

(g) Test validity elements. Test conditions, data quality objectives, and study design will vary 

from field study to field study. Depending on the type of problem being addressed, the field test 

may take any one of a number of forms. As such, this area does not lend itself to a detailed 

treatment of test validity elements.

(h) Reporting―

(1) Background information. Background information to be supplied in the report 

consists at a minimum of those background information items listed in paragraph (j)(1) of 

OCSPP 850.3000.

(2) Test protocol deviations. Objectives and procedures stated in the EPA-approved 

protocol, developed based upon consultation with the Agency. Include a description of 

any deviations from the agreed upon test protocol or any occurrences which may have 

influenced the results of the test.

(3) Test substance. 

(i) End-use product (name, state or form, source), its purity (for pesticides, the 

identity (common name, IUPAC and CAS names, CAS number) and 

concentration of active ingredient(s)), and known physical and chemical 

properties that are pertinent to the test.

(ii) Storage conditions of the test substance.

(iii) Methods of preparation of test substance, including any carrier used to 

dissolve or dilute the test substance, and the amount of test substance (per acre, 

per colony, etc.), method of administration, and rationale for selection of method, 

route, or frequency.

(4) Test organisms. 

(i) Scientific name, strain, and source.

(ii) Culture method and conditions.

(iii) Health status of colonies used or used for collection of test bees (e.g., any 

adult diseases, use and application date(s) of any prophylactic or preventative 

treatments).

(iv) Collection method and date of collection.

(v) Holding period.

(vi) Approximate age at test initiation.
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(5) Test system and conditions. Description of the test system and conditions of the 

field test.

(i) Size of colonies or description of housing conditions: type, size, and material 

of test cages.

(ii) Source and availability of food and water.

(iii) Common and scientific name of treated crop.

(iv) Field plot size, and method and time of administration of test substance on the 

field plot(s).

(v) Type of controls.

(vi) Number of treatment levels and controls and the method used to determine 

treatment levels.

(vii) Number of bees per cage or colony.

(viii) Number of bees per treatment level.

(ix) Number of replicates.

(x) Method of assigning bees or colonies to treatment and control groups and 

method of assigning field plots.

(xi) Method and time of administration.

(xii) Duration of the study and length of total observation period.

(xiii) Types and frequency of effects to be observed and duration of each 

observation.

(xiv) Methods and frequency of environmental monitoring performed on treated 

plots during administration of test substance and throughout observation period 

for temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, cloud cover and any other 

conditions that would impact initial concentration or stability of residue levels on 

treated plots.

(xv) A description of cropping practices during the test.

(xvi) Description of the frequency and type of analytical samples, if any. All 

analytical procedures and preservation methods should be described. The 

accuracy of the method, method detection limit, and limit of quantification should 

be given.
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(6) Results. 

(i) Field site environmental monitoring data results (temperature, precipitation, 

wind speed, relative humidity, cloud cover) in tabular form (provide raw data for 

measurements not made on a continuous basis), and descriptive statistics (mean, 

standard deviation, minimum, maximum).

(ii) The reported results should include the results of range-finding tests, if 

conducted.

(iii) Effects data in tabular form (provide raw data) and descriptive statistics.

(iv) A summary and analysis of the data with a statement of the conclusions 

drawn from the analysis of the effects data.

(v) Statistical methods employed for analyzing the data, including any software 

used, a description of the transformations, calculations, or operations performed 

on the data.

(i) References. The references in this paragraph should be consulted for additional background 

material on this test guideline.

(1) Atkins, E.L. et al., 1976. Protecting Honeybees from Pesticides, University of 

California, Division of Agricultural Sciences, Leaflet 2883, 14 pp. 

(2) Robinson, W.S. and C.A. Johansen, 1978. Effects of Control Chemicals for Douglas 

Fir Tussock Moth Orgyia pseudotsugata (McDonnough) on Forest Pollination 

(Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), Washington State Entomological Society Melanderia 30:9-

56. 

(3) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1986. Hazard Evaluation Division Standard 

Evaluation Procedure, Field Testing for Pollinators. Office of Pesticides Programs, 

Washington, D.C., EPA-540/9-86-140. 

(4) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1982. Pesticide Assessment Guidelines 

Subdivision L Hazard Evaluation: Nontarget Insects. Office of Pesticides and Toxic 

Substances, Washington, D.C., EPA-540/9-82-019.