Brussels, 17/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 17 May, EU agriculture ministers adopted conclusions whereby they call for a study to be conducted to determine the extent and the possible causes of colony losses in order to plan future action on a solid and objective scientific basis. “Until more accurate knowledge is acquired, every reasonable step should be taken to promote honeybee health and to mitigate the risks caused by different factors, including developing joint initiatives at the level of the European Union”, ministers say.
The ministers highlight the importance of devoting attention to honeybee health, as these sensitive animals are early indicators of the adverse effects of the loss of biodiversity and pollution. They take a stance in favour of continued research and say agri-financial action should be considered for the post-2013 period, adding that there is a need to support breeding programmes which concentrate on disease and pest tolerance (especially against varrosis). The Council also underlines the need to promote proper land management (in particular agricultural practices promoting flower and pollen rich grass meadows and field margins).
The Commission is invited to: - “make the outcome of the pilot surveillance programme, coordinated by the newly designated European Union Reference Laboratory for bee health, available to all parties concerned; - continue providing training for the authorities responsible for bee health; - develop, where necessary, non-regulatory instruments such as EU guidelines on general principles for controlling certain diseases and for treatment practices for bees (in particular against varrosis); - examine the possibility of providing further incentives to the pharmaceutical sector in order to increase choice and to increase the availability of authorised veterinary medicinal products for bees; - consider bees and other minor species when studying and proposing, if justified, simplified authorisation requirements for veterinary medicinal products; - evaluate the need for additional rules on controls of residues in honey for various pesticides and veterinary medicinal products and to propose the measures that are deemed necessary; - continue to update the plant protection product risk assessment scheme for bees, and to look for possible gaps in the methodology of the risk assessment and eliminate them where they exist and if considered scientifically significant or relevant for bee health; - evaluate the need for financial support and funding of in-depth research on bee health and on the causes of increased losses of bees, including the development of alternative methods to control major bee diseases and pests (especially varrosis); - consider financial support for national apiculture programmes for the post-2013 period; - take account of serious honeybee pests and diseases when reviewing Council Decision 2009/470/EC of 25 May 2009 on expenditure in the veterinary field with a view to possibly covering the financing of national programmes for the eradication, control and monitoring of such diseases”. (L.C./transl.jl)