Mr Sutton said MAF had approached beekeepers to gain consent to treat hives and treatment would begin early next week, now that Apistan had been approved for general use. He said he was aware of concerns among some beekeepers that miticide residues could affect their honey and other bee products. Data was insufficient to confirm that residues in beeswax, comb honey and propolis from treated hives would be within acceptable levels over an extended period of time. Comb honey is almost uniquely a New Zealand product, so there is no information in the international arena covering this issue. Officials advise a residue level at 0.1parts per million for honey, beeswax, comb honey, and propolis, will not be exceeded in the first two years of use.
Levels are well below food safety and public health concern levels.
Apistan use is to be restricted to brood boxes, not the supers from which most honey and other bee products are harvested. The approval of Apistan for general use is only for two years, in order to enable data to be collected to set a maximum residue limit, and to review Apistan against other products which will be available then. There is international evidence that the mite can become resistant to Apistan, Mr Sutton said. It is understood that this could be because of mis-use. He said it was important that beekeepers used the product as directed.