Below is the Canadian Honey Council's (CHC) most recent newsletter. I
submit it here because it shows a lot of careful thought and contains
reasonable suggestions regarding a problem that is not restricted to
Ontario or Canada. These ideas may be of use to other groups in other
jurisdictions.
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Welcome to b-TALK and the latest information on the activities of the
Canadian Honey Council. Below is the current news on some of the issues
we are working on this month.
Regards,
Rod Scarlett, Executive Director
● In response to a request from the Ontario Beekeepers Association the
Canadian Honey Council has developed a series of national
recommendations focused around honey bee pesticide incidents. The
recommendations are:
#1. Reporting an Incident
1) The CHC recommends that the national toll-free telephone line for the
reporting of pesticide incidents established by PMRA be more actively be
promoted and publicized. Once the initial call has been placed, the
appropriate provincial authorities should be immediately informed. If
provincial authorities are contacted first, they should immediately
notify PMRA of the incident.
2) The CHC recommends that the PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency)
and/or provincial authorities contact (or connect) the registrant to
beekeepers, when that course of action has been approved by the beekeeper.
3) The CHC recommends that Health Canada budget sufficient resources to
PMRA in the long term to deal with bee incident reporting.
4) The CHC recommends that the PMRA alert the CHC when an incident is
reported.
5) The CHC recommends that the PMRA revise their internal initial
reporting policy to ensure that only after preliminary investigations
are conducted, incident notification is posted on the web-site. In this
way only those incidents where there is a likelihood of pesticide
involvement are published.
6) The CHC recommends that the PMRA, representatives of the agricultural
sector, and registrants draft appropriate guidelines to address gaps in
the printed guidelines regarding bee incidents.
7) The CHC recommends that the PMRA abandon attempts to conduct the AG
Field Questionnaire based on its current format for 2013 or until such
time as there have been more detailed discussions with landowners and
beekeepers.
8) In conjunction with the CHC, the PMRA incorporate comments made by
the CAPA Chemical committee into the Bee Yard Questionnaire.
9) The CHC recommends that the PMRA bee incident reporting form have a
question asking the last time the bee yard was visited.
10) The CHC recommends that the PMRA allow for a check box on the bee
incident reporting form indicating that no investigation is to occur.
(For reasons of the grower/beekeepers relationship)
11) The CHC recommends that the PMRA allow for a check off box on the
bee incident reporting form permitting PMRA to share the specifics of
the incident with the appropriate registrant.
12) The CHC, Provincial Associations and Provincial Apiarists provide
information to beekeepers on what to look for in the event of a
pesticide incident.
#2. Investigating an incident
1) CHC recommends that PMRA, in cooperation with Provincial authorities,
registrants, and the CHC develop a standard sample
collection/investigation procedure so the necessary steps are taken for
proper analysis. CHC should be consulted on this for the final draft.
2) The CHC recommends that PRMA use provincial bee inspectors where
available to carry out sample collection and investigation process in a
knowledgeable and timely manner. Further that the appropriate sample,
collection, and investigation procedures be shared with beekeepers so
that they can collect their own samples.
3) The CHC recommends that Provincial authorities and Provincial
Associations investigate the feasibility of developing an auditable
course designed to teach beekeepers sample, collection and investigation
procedures.
4) The CHC recommends that PMRA should allow for resources to carry out
the investigating process beyond 2013.
5) The CHC should provide a list of qualified labs which a beekeeper
could send samples to on their own.
6) The CHC recommends that PMRA needs to set a timeline from when the
samples are picked up and when the results will be available to the
beekeeper.
7) The CHC recommends that, if requested by beekeepers, registrants be
allowed to carry out investigations.
8) Considerable work has been done on the introduction of a Best
Management Practices for investigating a potential pollinator incident.
Work needs to continue involving PMRA, CHC, Provincial Apiarists, crop
production associations, registrants and other interested parties in
order to formalize a national standard.
Analyzing toxicity levels of certain chemicals/ insecticides
1. It is recommended that the CHC ask CropLife Canada (CLC) to collect
and summarize public data on value and contribution of Plant Protection
products.
2. It is recommended that the CHC designate individuals from its
leadership to improve their understanding of Canadian pesticide
regulation participate by participating in a PMRA course on the subject.
3. It is recommended that the CHC request CLC to present a summary of
the requirements of the PMRA vis a vis non-target organisms especially
pollinators.
4. It is recommended that the CHC request CLC to provide an
understanding of the quality and independence of “company-supplied
information” in a pesticide submission through an explanation of Good
Laboratory Practices (GLP) experimentation.
5. It is recommended that the CHC ask CLC to produce a presentation
and/or webinar on basic Toxicology vis a vis pollinators and Crop
Protection products.
6. It is recommended that the CHC gather questions about crop protection
products which need to be addressed to beekeepers about pollinators.
7. It is recommended that the CHC gather information about the Quebec
stakeholders committee and decide on a national structure to present to
CHC board.
8. It is recommended that the CHC ask PMRA for information/presentation
on how pollinators are protected to extend to beekeeping associations.
9. It is recommended that the CHC establish a rapport with PMRA for
updates on regulatory requirements for Crop Protection products
regarding pollinators.
10. It is recommended that the CHC ask CLC to provide to
leadership/designates information on the development and regulatory
aspects of Hive Health products.
#4 Point of contact? Seed treatments/dust or Surface/Aerial spray
applications
1. It is recommended that the CHC should request CLC to expand the
planned webinar on pesticide toxicity to pollinators to include routes
of exposure.
2. It is recommended that the CHC ask the CLC to provide a series of
articles/information to Hive Lights on the subject of exposure of
pesticides to pollinators.
3. It is recommended that the CHC request the CLC to produce a
document/presentation summarizing routes of pesticide exposure to
pollinators.
4. It is recommended that the CHC request the CLC to provide BMPs for
growers and their Outreach Strategy.
5. It is recommended that the CHC ask the CLC to collect and summarize
existing literature on Exposure and Mitigation from EU/US sources.
6. It is recommended by the CHC that standard (bee incident)
investigation procedures be utilized in Canada for bee incidents.
7. It is recommended by the CHC that a letter be drafted to the
equipment manufacturers asking them to commit to participating in
schemes to reduce fugitive dust by explaining and implementing short and
long term strategies.
8. It is recommended that the CHC check the feasibility of the Seed
Treatment (ST) industry hosting beekeepers at a ST facility to review
processes and quality control . In the absence of a tour, that the CLC
provide information/presentation about how corn seed is treated.
9. It is recommended that the CHC request the CLC to provide an update
regarding the development and regulatory status of talc and graphite
replacements to the CHC.
#5 Recommendations/Best Management Practices for beekeepers, seed
companies/chemical companies, crop growers, applicators, ag equipment
manufacturers
1. It is recommended that the CHC develop an agenda plan and venue for a
discussion with stakeholders regarding the contribution of pollination
to agriculture.
2. It is recommended that the CHC study existing pollinator partnership
groups in the US to see if such models would be good to develop in Canada.
3. It is recommended that the CHC should ask CLC to collect existing
examples of stewardship at seed treatment facilities.
4. It is recommended that the CHC should sponsor and organize
discussions on BMPs for beekeepers to reduce the risk of exposure to
pesticides.
5. It is recommended that the CHC should consider participating in Grow
Canada, and communicate that information to CLC/Grow Canada.
6. It is recommended that the CHC discuss the need for the development
of BMPs for beekeepers on the subject of hive-health products.
7. It is recommended that the CHC investigate opportunities associated
with government programming focussed on improved access to forage in
those parts of Canada where it has been requested.
8. It is recommended that the CHC evaluate opportunities for
region-specific recommendations for melliferous plants which could be
planted as crops and/or non-ag use areas similar to programs in the US
and EU.
9. It is recommended that the CHC encourage provincial beekeeping
associations to get involved in the provincial pesticide recommendation
activities to bring (or increase) awareness of pollinator safety.
10. It is recommended that the CHC evaluate the value of implementing a
program similar to “Driftwatch” in the US.
11. It is recommended that the CHC encourage all crop producers to
incorporate an Integrated Pest Management plan on their operations
● The Pest Management Regulatory Agency has updated their website
and information can be found at:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_fact-fiche/index-eng.php
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_fact-fiche/index-fra.php
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_fact-fiche/pollinator-protection-pollinisateurs/index-eng.php
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_fact-fiche/pollinator-protection-pollinisateurs/index-fra.php
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_fact-fiche/pollinator-protection-pollinisateurs/treated_seed-semences_traitees-eng.php
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_fact-fiche/pollinator-protection-pollinisateurs/treated_seed-semences_traitees-fra.php
Website: http://www.honeycouncil.ca
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