§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact on public health from the importation of honey from countries where bees are treated with anti-varroa products not approved in the United Kingdom. [20576]
§ Mr. RookerThe Veterinary Medicines Directorate tested samples of honey for flumethrin as part of its non-statutory residues surveillance programme in 1996. Approximately 70 per cent. of the samples collected at random from retail outlets were imported. None of the samples was positive. Results for this year are not yet available.
§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Facers and Food what representations he has received from beekeepers with regard to the control of varroa mite by products approved in other EU countries but not approved in the United Kingdom; what response he has given; what is his assessment of the impact on United Kingdom beekeepers of the resistance of bees to the only United Kingdom approved product; and if he will take steps to approve the use of those other products in the United Kingdom. [20577]
§ Mr. RookerI have received a number of letters from hon. Members and Secretaries of beekeeping associations on this subject, and they will all receive full responses to the points they have made about the import and administration of unauthorised products.
We are not aware of any incidence of varroa mite resistance in the UK.
The question of any applications for authorisation of new veterinary medicines to control varroa mites is one for the pharmaceutical industry. No veterinary medicines is authorised unless it satisfies the statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy.