Australian beekeepers welcome pesticide review

The Western Australian Farmers Federation (WAFarmers) Beekeepers Section has welcomed the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority’s (APVMA) announcement that it will review the science on pesticides and bee health.

There have been concerns in various parts of Europe and USA about the potential for insecticides to impact on the health of honey bees and other insect pollinators in the environment.

A new generation of pesticides called neonicotinoids may play a role in the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) which is a phenomenon noticed particularly in the USA and Europe where bees suddenly disappear from their hives.

WAFarmers Beekeepers Section president, David Leyland, said while CCD was not experienced in Australia, beekeepers want to see all measures taken to ensure that it stays that way.

"A number of neonicotinoids that are being used overseas, which are thought to have caused CCD, are also used in Australia,” Mr Leyland said.

"There needs to be a particular focus on whether a particular class of insecticides, the neonicotinoids, might have sub-lethal effects on bees which may reduce their ability to pollinate plants and produce honey.

"It will be interesting to see whether the current APVMA data requirements, for testing of insecticides, are adequate to deal with potential effects of neonicotinoids on bees.

"Beekeepers around Australia will welcome this investigation and we look forward to the release of the report early next year,” Mr Leyland said.