> German investigations in the early 1990s showed that a relatively high percentage of German honeys analysed (36–50%) contained from three to 50 μg PDCB /kg (Hamman et al. 1990; Wallner, 1992). These results led to reports in the German mass media about 'poisonous honey'. Since then the German Beekeeping Union has carried out regular checks on the PDCB content of German honey. This quality-control activity has resulted in a decrease in the percentage of PDCB-contaminated honey from the high initial contamination rate found to a present level of zero to 6% (Wallner et al. 2000, 2001). Beekeepers can control wax moth efficiently using alternative, non-toxic treatments (Charriere & Imdorf, 1999). In Switzerland, positive findings by the cantonal laboratories in 1999 led to the establishment of a 'Swiss tolerance value' (STV) for honey of 10 μg/kg, however, worldwide there is no 'maximum residue limit' (MRL) for honey.

Residues of para-dichlorobenzene in honey and beeswax Journal of Apicultural Research 43(1): 14–16 (2004)  © IBRA 2004

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