Researchers link fungus to bee losses in U.S.

[crazy croc]

I came across this new piece of legislation for Northern Ireland while at work today. It pertains to handling the bee problem and has some interesting things in it. It seems someone believes this type of thing might be to blame. Interesting how they require the keepers to destroy certain american and euro bee brood. Have a look, it's fairly short. It's the third link down. #246 I believe.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/sr/srs26-04.htm

 

[Laura]

Very interesting indeed. Notice the dates:

Made 18th April 2007
Coming into operation 21st May 2007

 

[jax]

I don't know what's creepier the fact that bees are disappearing or this piece of legislation, a snippet:

Disease control measures
7. —(1) The presence of a notifiable disease shall be confirmed by an authorised person on the basis of either a laboratory test result or a field test kit result.

(2) Where the presence of American foul brood has been confirmed in a hive, an authorised person—



(a) shall serve on the owner or person in charge of the hive a notice requiring the destruction in accordance with the notice of any bees, combs or bee products from the hive;

(b) may serve on the owner or person in charge of the hive a notice requiring the destruction or treatment in accordance with the notice of the hive, debris from the hive and any appliances or other things liable to spread the disease;

(c) may serve on any other person who is the owner or person in charge of any appliances or other things liable to spread the disease a notice requiring their destruction or treatment in accordance with the notice.


(3) Where the presence of European foul brood has been confirmed in a hive, an authorised person—



(a) shall serve on the owner or person in charge of the hive a notice requiring the destruction or treatment in accordance with the notice of any bees, combs or bee products from the hive;

(b) may serve on the owner or person in charge of the hive a notice requiring the destruction or treatment in accordance with the notice of the hive, debris from the hive and any appliances or other things liable to spread the disease;

(c) may serve on any other person who is the owner or person in charge of any appliances or other things liable to spread the disease a notice requiring their destruction or treatment in accordance with the notice.


(4) If, once any treatment required by a notice served under this Article has been carried out, an authorised person confirms by way of a laboratory test result or a field test kit result that the notifiable disease remains, an authorised person may serve further notices under this Article.

 

[Mr. Premise]

It has long been standard practice among beekeepers to burn any hives that have had foulbrood. It is a really nasty and contagious bee disease and the wood making up the hive cannot be rid of the disease any other way.

In most states in the U.S. there are bee inspectors that come around and inspect hives.

BTW, Euro and American foul brood is not responsible for the bee disappearances. Those diseases have been around for a while.

 

[Jsf]

Discussed here too : http:xxwww(dot)earthfile(dot).com/news/news.cfm?ID=1239&category=Environment

 

[crazy croc]

I came across some more interesting legislation today. This time for the EU. It regards genetically modified seed and the removal of such from the growing industry. Here's an interesting excerpt:

"The tolerated level and the period of time should be set
taking into account the time needed until the effective
withdrawal from the market of the seeds produces its
effects throughout the food and feed chain."

Hmm. I wonder what effects are trying to be produced? If you want to read some of the stuff, here's a link. Scroll down to 'DECISIONS'.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:L:2007:117:SOM:EN:HTML

 

[sHiZo963]

They actually had a mention on this strange phenomenon on the local NBC5 Chicago news program tonight, right after the story that gas prices have skyrocketed in the past two weeks.

They mentioned: "about 25% losses in bee population," agriculturalists "concerned" because "25% of the nation's food supply depends on pollination," and "no one knows for sure" what's causing it i.e. researchers are at "a loss."

It lasted less than 1 minute, followed quickly by a 5+ minute analysis of the Bulls' (basketball) Playoff loss...

All I can say is, Thank God for SOTT :)

 

[jax]

It has long been standard practice among beekeepers to burn any hives that have had foulbrood. It is a really nasty and contagious bee disease and the wood making up the hive cannot be rid of the disease any other way.

In most states in the U.S. there are bee inspectors that come around and inspect hives.

BTW, Euro and American foul brood is not responsible for the bee disappearances. Those diseases have been around for a while

DonaldJ Hunt, do you really think this is all very "standard" considering the context of events and the fact that something like this piece of legislation funnels all control of information through "authorized person" aka state government person who will dictate level of threat, create threat, its thus their word against no one.

 

[Charles]

"The tolerated level and the period of time should be set
taking into account the time needed until the effective
withdrawal from the market of the seeds produces its
effects throughout the food and feed chain."

Hmm. I wonder what effects are trying to be produced?

Shhhh ... No need to wake sleeping dogs.

The EU has just decided to pull lots of genetically modified organisms from the market. The effects they talk about is the pulling of GMO's from the market. The tolerated level they talk about is the level of GMO’s plain that still contaminates the feedstock, and this contamination will linger on for some 5 years before the contamination drops back to zero. Good news I'd say.

Therefore
neither the cultivation nor the placing on the market
of SYN-EV176-9 maize and its derived products will be
authorised in the Community after 18 April 2007.

The entire paragraph from which you cited makes it easier to understand ...

The tolerated level and the period of time should be set
taking into account the time needed until the effective
withdrawal from the market of the seeds produces its
effects throughout the food and feed chain. In all cases,
the tolerated level shall remain below the labelling and
traceability threshold of no higher than 0,9 % provided
for by the Regulation for the adventitious or technically
unavoidable presence of GM material in food and feed.

From the same site you provided:

Measures to be complied with by the notifier in order to ensure effective withdrawal from the market of seeds
from inbred lines and hybrids derived from SYN-EV176-9 maize for the purpose of cultivation
(a) Inform commercial operators in the Community of the commercial and legal status of the seed.
(b) Recall remaining commercial seed stock held by operators.
(c) Destroy remaining commercial seed stock.
(d) Conclude product discontinuation agreements with third parties instructing them to either send back seed or to verify and attest that the seed has been destroyed.
(e) Undertake all[/b] necessary steps for the deregistration of registered varieties of the seed from the national seed catalogues.
(f) Implement an in-house program to avoid presence of the event in breeding and seed production..

So it is not about any "effects that they are trying to produce". In a sense though, maybe it IS about effects, known to some and caused by GMO's that they are trying to STOP. Maybe it is even related to our Bee problem.

 

[Mr. Premise]

I don't think you understand what foulbrood is. There is no doubt whether or not you have it. This is a completely separate issue from the mysterious bee disappearances.

It has long been standard practice among beekeepers to burn any hives that have had foulbrood. It is a really nasty and contagious bee disease and the wood making up the hive cannot be rid of the disease any other way.

In most states in the U.S. there are bee inspectors that come around and inspect hives.

BTW, Euro and American foul brood is not responsible for the bee disappearances. Those diseases have been around for a while

DonaldJ Hunt, do you really think this is all very "standard" considering the context of events and the fact that something like this piece of legislation funnels all control of information through "authorized person" aka state government person who will dictate level of threat, create threat, its thus their word against no one.

 

[jax]

djh i never above stated bee disappearances were directly related to foul brood- i did say that both events were creepy. i did relate them in the same context. whether it foul brood, chicken pox or the mumps its still creepy.

This is a completely separate issue from the mysterious bee disappearances.

Personally I do think it all relevant.

 

[Jsf]

Unbelievable !
News of 13/05/2007 (TF1) : bees : no problem ! Bees are back in France ! Everything is ok ! A lot of honey ! Exceptionnal year, more than all the 8 past years with insecticids which are now forbidden.
http://tf1.lci.fr/infos/media/jt/0,,3446821,00-abeilles-retour-dans-ruches-.html
(in french, but you can see bee-keepers smiling)