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.
---

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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