The use of Plant Protection Products (PPP) is restricted for conservation purposes of bee families. The changes aim at introducing more restrictive time constraints when performing treatments. This is envisaged by the Draft amendment of Ordinance No. 13 of 2016 on the Measures for the Protection of Bees and Bee Families from poisoning and the ways of carrying out plant protection, disinfection and disinfestation activities. Opinions and proposals on it may be submitted within 30 days.
Plant protection products identified as “Hazardous to the bees” will only be used during the dark part of the day with ground handling equipment. This will be done in accordance with the procedure for disclosure of plant protection, disinfection and disinfestation activities.
Any systemic action insecticides not identified as “Hazardous to the bees” will be used on the land or aviation technology from sunset until 2 hours after sunrise. Plant protection products other than those listed will be applied by sunset until 10:00 a.m. of the next day, with aviation or ground equipment.Low-risk, microbial-based PPP will be used with ground or aviation equipment without a time limit.
The amendments to the Ordinance provide for a ban on PPP treatment, disinfection and disinfestation preparations for flowering vegetation areas, pastureland, water areas and treatment outside the buffer zones designated when the PPP is authorized. The use of food bait substances for bees is prohibited, except in the case of the addition of repellents.
To improve the control over the use of PPPs, inspections will be launched by inspectors from the Regional Food Safety Directorates (RFAs) and the Regional Directorates of Agriculture. Including weekends, they will be available for unregistered processing alerts.
The amendments to Ordinance No. 13 also provide for an improvement of the notification mechanism through the establishment of an electronic platform for the disclosure of plant protection, disinfection and disinfestation activities. Through it, the owners of apiaries will be informed about upcoming treatments with ground or aviation equipment and take timely measures by them to protect the bee families from poisoning.
The proposals seek to ensure a better protection of bees and bee families by strengthening the control, regulation of all measures and procedures related to the protection of bees from poisoning.
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
mzh.government.bg