§ Lord Gisboroughasked Her Majesty's Government:
What provision has been made for the time when the mite, Varroa jacobsoni, becomes immune to BayvatTol, given that such immune mite are now to be found in France. [HL168]
§ Lord DonoughueThe Government are monitoring the situation on the Continent.
The question of any applications for authorisation of new veterinary medicines to control varroa mites is one for the pharmaceutical industry. No veterinary medicine is authorised unless it satisfies the statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy.
§ Lord Gisboroughasked Her Majesty's Government:
Given that many of the alternative treatments for the control of the Varroa mite are generally available in substances like essential oils, what steps are being taken to make them legally available for use by beekeepers. [HL 169]
§ Lord DonoughueApplications for the authorisation of new veterinary medicines to control varroa mites are matters for the pharmaceutical industry.
§ Lord Gisboroughasked Her Majesty's Government:
Given that much of the honey imported into the United Kingdom and made available for sale here has been exposed to varroa treatments denied to British beekeepers, what tests are being made on such honey for the presence of residues of substances British beekeepers are not permitted to use. [HL170]
§ Lord DonoughueThe Veterinary Medicines Directorate tests retail samples of honey, which will include imported honey, for a wide range of veterinary drugs. Further, under Council Directive 96/23/EC, the66WA Commission is requiring all member states to include testing of honey in their residue surveillance plans for 1998. From 1 January 1999 such testing will become obligatory under the same directive and any samples which contain veterinary drug residues above the maximum residue limit will have to be investigated by the competent authorities of the member state concerned.