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 Animal Products Act 21 August 2002 1080 and Harvest Declarations Dear Beekeeper A recent enquiry regarding the possibility of contamination of honey with sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) refers. Apiculture experts advise me that bees will not be attracted to forage cereal-based or carrot baits. There have been incidents reported in the past of bee deaths and honey contamination but these have been associated with fruit-lured pesticides. This has prompted the Department of Conservation and the Animal Health Board to seldom use such baits. These two organisations have also added a bee repellent to pastes and have operational procedures in place to ensure risk of bee product contamination is minimised. There is also an interest in protecting nectivorous birds from poisoning - further reinforcing the move away from fruit lures. The application of 1080 also requires Medical Officer of Health (MOH) consent. The Ministry of Health have published model conditions to assist a MOH determine the suitability of pesticide use. The conditions state "Paste (jam) baits containing 1080 must not be laid within 4km of beehives without 3 months prior notice to all registered beekeepers in the operational area. A specific enquiry received related to how should a beekeeper complete the harvest declaration for products from an apiary site proximal to the application of 1080. The relevant part of the declaration is question (b) which asks: "From your knowledge of the bee foraging area, have any potentially harmful pesticides or agricultural compounds been used on, or affected, any of the flowering crops or other nectar sources in that area?" Given the above information the answer is 'No' unless fruit/jam lures have been applied. In which case you should be notified of such and have sufficient opportunity to remove hives from the affected area. I trust this is of some assistance. Yours faithfully
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