http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/5083399/erma-not-allowing-new-poison-for-
bee-mites/



An environmental regulator which controls hazardous substances has knocked back a chemical 
company's bid to import an organophosphate poison to kill varroa mites in beehives.

Beekeepers warned the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) that the Checkmite 
product Bayer New Zealand Ltd wants to import could leave residues which would hurt the high-
value export industry built around medicinal honeys such as biologically active manuka, thyme and 
honeydew products.

Erma said today it has not banned Checkmite, but had taken a precautionary approach because 
Bayer failed to show enough verified benefits, compared with the risks.

A future re-assessment may be warranted if circumstances changed, said Erma hazardous 
substances general manager Andrea Eng.

"Checkmite contains coumaphos, an organophosphate, reported to produce persistent residues in 
honey, beeswax, and the hive environment," Ms Eng said.

"Concerns about the immediate risks posed by Checkmite outweighed the comparatively small 
potential benefit of being able to use it should varroa mite develop resistance to one or more of 
the alternatives currently available."

There were several other miticides beekeepers could use, and Erma called for the beekeeping 
industry to formally monitor the efficacy of the products already available, improve the 
understanding of resistance management and do further research into management of varroa 
mite.

The application to import Checkmite was originally received in 2006 but was held over until 2008 
to allow the applicant to conduct trials in containment.

Seven submissions were received, with one in favour. The six against included included the two 
national bodies that represent beekeepers, the National Beekeepers Association and the Federated 
Farmers bee industry group, New Zealand's largest exporter of manuka honey products and three 
other honey producers/exporters.

Key concerns raised were longterm effects on beekeepers' costs as a result of wax/ honey 
contamination with coumaphos residues; loss of export sales due to the negative impact of 
coumaphos residues on the reputation of the NZ industry, and potential loss of the medical 
market for special honeys, such as manuka sold as a wound healer and for digestive health.

Federated Farmers Bee chairman John Hartnell said the decision was a "sensible approach".

"It is extremely important that beekeepers use alternating treatments from different chemical 
families," he said. "If they don't, the industry runs the risk of treatment resistance in the future."

****************************************************
* General Information About BEE-L is available at: *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm   *
****************************************************