Bee Health

Neonicotinoids Pose Danger to Bees Concludes EFSA

apiarymanager Bee Health, Neonicotinoids

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), an independent body, released its report into the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on bee health on Wednesday (16 January).

The report concluded that:

  • Exposure from pollen and nectar. Only uses on crops not attractive to honey bees were considered acceptable.
  • Exposure from dust. A risk to honeybees was indicated or could not be excluded, with some exceptions, such as use on sugarbeet and crops planted in glasshouses, and for the use of some granules.
  • Exposure from guttation. The only risk assessment that could be completed was for maize treated with thiamethoxam. In this case, field studies show an acute effect on honeybees exposed to the substance through guttation fluid.

Read press release on EFSA website.

A separate report released earlier this week warned that up to £630m could be lost from the UK economy each year if neonicotinoids are withdrawn.

The study, independently commissioned by EU’s Humboldt Forum for Food and Agriculture (HFFA) was financed by Syngenta and Bayer CropScience,

Lords Debate Honey Bee Decline

apiarymanager Bee Health, PBKA

On January 9th the House of Lords debated the decline of honey bees. Some interesting statistics were mentioned: the number of beekeepers has doubled in the past ten years; the number of [colonies] has reduced by 75% over the past 100 years – [but this should be seen against Leslie Bailey’s conclusion in 2000 that the so called Isle of Wight disease problem was due to too many hives in any given area leading to starvation and spread of disease: ed]; and that it is significant that the UK has lost a staggering 97% of its wildflower meadows since the 1930s.

Find out more here.

Keeping Medicine Records

apiarymanager Bee Health

Honey bees are currently defined as a food producing species and current legislation requires that you keep a record of the purchase, use and disposal of any honeybee medicines.

Owners or keepers of food-producing animals intended for the food chain, must keep specific records:

  • at the time of purchase;
  • at the time of administration to the animal;
  • and if the product is disposed of, other than by treating an animal

There is further detailed guidance on the requirements on the Veterinary Medicines Directorate website. Please see Veterinary Medicine Guidance Note number 14.

The National Bee Unit have also produced a Fact Sheet entitled Bee Medicaments (Number 44).  In the document there is an example of a veterinary medicines record sheet which meets all record keeping requirements laid down in the Veterinary Medicines Regulations which you can copy and use. You may wish to incorporate it into your apiary records. Make sure you record all the mandatory requirements listed and that you keep them for at least five years.

Treating Varroa – Apiguard

apiarymanager Bee Health, PBKA, Varroa

Please note that Geoff Bazin will shortly be putting in a bulk order for Apiguard. Apiguard  is a recommended treatment for Varroa and needs to be administered at the end of the main flow, but before giving the winter feed. This is an ideal opportunity available only for PBKA members to obtain this Varroa treatment at a favourable cost. Please contact Geoff with your order before the end of July at the very latest.