The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has formally launched a new Bird Risk Calculator Tool and complete guidance, representing a significant shift in how agrichemical hazards to New Zealand’s avian species are assessed.
The release is part of a larger EPA initiative to upgrade risk assessment tools, making them more consistent, robust, and scientifically current.
A Shift to the 2023 EFSA Standards
The new instrument represents a tremendous technological advance. Since 2022, the EPA’s methodology for hazardous compounds has been based on the 2009 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) advice. The 2025 Bird Risk Calculator officially aligns the benchmark with the EFSA 2023 advice.
What has changed?
- The tool replaces the existing EFSA 2009 quantitative models outlined in Section C.12 of the EPA’s methodology.
- Designed specifically for spraying agrichemicals.
- It includes updated data on food exposure and more accurate modelling of avian interactions with treated crops.
Timeline for Applicants
As the tool is now accessible, since January 2026, it will be the norm for the EPA’s internal evaluations. When preparing their submissions, applicants are encouraged by the EPA to use the tool. Because of this transparency, industry participants can –
- Perform independent ecotoxicology analyses prior to formal submission.
- Identify necessary risk management measures.
- Use substance-specific data instead of “default” values to create more realistic risk profiles.
Currently, the Bird Risk Calculator Tool uses data from European bird species. However, a critical component of the EPA’s larger effort is determining the viability of applying these models to New Zealand-specific bird data. If viable, an upgraded version of the tool adapted to local species and conditions is expected by the mid-2027.








