Bees – situation on trouble spots

1. Bees – situation on trouble spots Belgrade, July 2nd 2008, Dr. T. Schneider, BCS – D – GRA/Insecticides,

2. Germany • Over wintering losses by 30% due to Varroa • No pesticide blamed • Monitoring since 2005, running very well • Round Table working well • Since end of April massive bee losses (just worker bees) in the area of Oberrheingraben/Baden-Wuertemberg and in the region of Passau/Bavaria • In timely correlation of maize sowing • Dust, generated and emitted during sowing identified as the reason • Inappropriate treatment quality of some seed lots • Use of some types of pneumatic sowing machines • Wind, dry and sunny weather after a long period of cold and wet weather • Considered as an accident by the authority (BVL) as well • 11.500 hives of 700 beekeepers in a wide range affected • Use of 8 treatment products for maize and oil seed rape suspended by May 15 • Use of 4 products for oil seed rape re-approved by June 24 • Industry isworking closely together with all groups concerned in the seed production and authorities to implement quality parameters for seed treatments European wide Belgrade, July 2nd 2008, Dr. T. Schneider, BCS – D – GRA/Insecticides,

3. France • Since November 2007 the AFSSA Research Centre (Faucon/Aubert) published data and information about a monitoring in France: • Done between 2002 and 2005 • No correlation between residues of PPP and bee mortality • Use of neonicotinoids decreased but bee mortality not • Varroa, Nosema and other diseases are the culprit in FRA • Decision to suspend the use of Gaucho in sunflower and corn are just politically based, not scientifically Belgrade, July 2nd 2008, Dr. T. Schneider, BCS – D – GRA/Insecticides,

4. Italy • MoH against precautionary Principle • Multifactor approach is getting more and more acceptable • Implement the round table via AGROFARMA Belgrade, July 2nd 2008, Dr. T. Schneider, BCS – D – GRA/Insecticides,

5. Slovenia • 500 hives affected • Dust, generated and emitted during sowing identified as the reason • Re-treatment on farm of already treated maize seeds lead to an increased abrasion of dust during sowing • MoA suspended the use of all neonicotinoid seed treatments • Seed treatment just in professional companies • On farm treatment only if supplier of the PPP can proof that the use of the product can be done with non-professional equipment Belgrade, July 2nd 2008, Dr. T. Schneider, BCS – D – GRA/Insecticides,

6. Conclusion for the EU • Seed treatment on professional facilities • Recommendation of the use of stickers with certain quality parameters in right amount • Commitment of all stakeholders in seed treatment to certain quality parameters of treated seeds • Implementation of regulation of treated seeds by authorities Belgrade, July 2nd 2008, Dr. T. Schneider, BCS – D – GRA/Insecticides,

7. USA • Colony Collapse Disorder: • Since end of 2006 • characterized by the sudden death of colonies • lack of adult bees in or in front of the hives • honey and bee bread are usually present • the queen is alive and still laying eggs • only very young worker bees of insufficient numbers present • no dead bees found in or in front of the hives • Numerous factors are suggested as possible causes: • viruses and other pathogens • parasites • environmental stresses • poor nutrition • transport stresses • Pesticides misuse. Belgrade, July 2nd 2008, Dr. T. Schneider, BCS – D – GRA/Insecticides,