Bob mentioned:
 
In certain areas such as Canada & the U.K. you can see the exact symptoms
which are described as CCD but for some reason the powers that be refuse 
to use the word CCD.

An attempt to comment on the above statement:
 
The Colony kill in Canada as per our surveys and investigations don't fit 
the CCD as defined by our colleagues in the USA. I am following the 
discussion here about the single criterion that define CCD. Unfortunately 
dead Canadian colonies can be robbed. The second criterion regarding 
disappearance of bees, Jerry answered this already " bees are found in the 
hives in Canada". In Alberta I used a bee yard where we highly suspected 
CCD existed and placed packages in them in 2007. All colonies did very 
well.
 
For the past three years, I conducted surveys and it is published under 
Alberta Agriculture website. I have also been conducting sampling and 
monitoring bees in commercial operations where high or low winter kill 
reported. 1000's of samples checked for Varroa and Nosema showed that at 
least 30 % of the colonies suffered from high levels of varroa mites and 
Nosema. Most of our Nosema is N. apis and about 20% is N ceranae. In fact, 
the sad part, we did monitor colonies after treatments where we found that 
treatments failed and it was too late to help these colonies. Our 2008 
fall survey results predicted mortality matched what was reported by 
beekeepers the following spring.
 
Please keep in mind that Checkmite failed to control Varroa in 2007 and 
Apistan already is no longer effective. Formic acid was not effective due 
to cold spring and early cold fall. Oxalic used and helped in some 
operations. In general, beekeepers were caught off guard and bees did not 
get the proper treatment on time. Therefore, mites levels were way high 
and consequently high winter kill was reported.
We stuck with two ineffective miticides; Apistan and Checkmite. Therefore, 
we worked hard to convince our regulators to grant Apivar an emergency 
registration. As soon as Apivar registered in late fall 2008. Beekeepers 
used it to salvage what can be salvaged of bee colonies. Beekeepers who 
used Apivar on time to protect winter bees reported <15% winter kill. As 
we kept monitoring colonies, We found colonies treated with Apivar have 
mites less than 1%.
 
Last comment, CND regulators have really nothing to gain from denying that 
there is CCD or NOT. CND beekeepers would have spoken up like any others 
beekeepers around the globe and complained. 
 
You Can ask the Canadian Honey Council. How much efforts done by the 
regulators to get Apivar registered and support the industry across Canada 
to keep healthy bees.
 
No question CCD research in the USA has provided us with good information 
about bee health and management. We wish that we move to the next stage 
and develop means to protect our bees from happening again.
 
 
medhat

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