There's this:
Canadian farmers who raise cattle, hogs, sheep and poultry are gearing up for the change, but the beekeeping industry isn’t ready for the new rules. That’s because most veterinarians in Canada don’t have the knowledge or training to write prescriptions for bees, said Rod Scarlett, executive director of the Canadian Honey Council.
It’s difficult to estimate how many vets in Canada are qualified to treat bees, but the number could be less than a dozen. “I have heard (that) 10 would be willing to prescribe to bees,” Scarlett said. That’s a problem because there are thousands of commercial and hobbyist apiarists in Canada.
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association said last month that as of Dec. 1, 2018, all medically important microbials for veterinary use will be sold by prescription only. Antibiotics are the most recognizable antimicrobial drug but livestock are also given anti-virals, anti-fungals and anti-parasitics.
Scarlett said large commercial beekeepers may be able to find a vet willing to write an antibiotic prescription. However, it will be more challenging for beekeepers who have two or three hives. “I’m not sure that veterinary clinics, anywhere, are prepared for any of this. There are 3,000 beekeepers in the Toronto area alone,” he said.
“We know this whole antimicrobial concern is valid,” Scarlett said. “So what we asked is at least for some discussion on a period where we can get veterinarians familiar with beekeeping problems.” He said it’s unrealistic to train and educate vets about bee colonies and diseases that affect bees by Dec. 1, 2018.
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