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<BR>Home,Anses,News,Press room,Agenda,Our topics,Food,Animal health and nutrition,Environmental health,Occupational health,Plants,Opinions and publications,Last opinions and reports,Food opinions and reports,Animal health and nutrition opinions and reports,Environmental and occupational health opinions and reports,Plants opinions,Opinions and reports in English,Bulletins and periodicals,Other publications,Subscribe to Anses newsletter,Research and reference,Research program,Laboratories and reference activities, + ,Job opportunities,Public procurement contracts,Our websites,Partners,Extranet / ExpertNet,Kid's area,Legal notice,Contact, ,<BR>For the past fifty years or so, a sharp decline in the number of pollinating insects has been observed in many industrialised countries. Since the mid-1980s, the world bee situation has been characterised by a high mortality rate in bees. This phenomenon is a major source of concern for professional beekeepers and also for farmers and the authorities. Over 80% of plant species depend on many species of pollinating insects, particularly bees, which play a part in these plants' survival and evolution. The causes of this phenomenon have not been clearly established and are the subject of some controversy. This has led to a large number of studies being conducted on this subject. Historically, these disorders have mainly been attributed to biological pathogens in bees; more recently the presence of chemicals in the environment, which may be poisoning the bees, has been evoked. <BR><BR>A study to review the situation<BR><BR>In this context, Afssa decided to carry out a study to shed light on the death of bee colonies for French beekeepers, determine its causes and related risk factors.<BR>Based on a critical analysis of the nationally and internationally available scientific data and research, the study "Weakening, collapse and mortality of bee colonies" lists possible causes of this increased mortality rate. Over forty causes were identified, which highlights the vast diversity of factors which may be harmful to colonies.<BR>On the basis of this inventory, Afssa studied the health situation of the French and European bee industries. It examined the epidemiological data collected in France and attempted to identify the major risk factors involved in the current mortality rate of bee colonies. <BR>This stage highlighted the role of biological agents and in particular that of varroasis in the disorders observed. Chemical agents, particularly phytopharmaceutical products, also constitute a cause of mortality. It was not however possible to determine the exact role of chronic exposure of colonies to these products or confirm or refute the hypothesis according to which this exposure could have a direct or indirect role in bee mortality.<BR>This research also demonstrated the necessity of improving the organisation of collecting and analysing epidemiological data. <BR>At the same time, the Agency analysed the workings of the French bee industry and the organisation of monitoring and management of bee health. The report has enabled the Agency to make a set of recommendations structured around five key areas.<BR><BR>Recommendations for gaining a clearer picture of the condition of the bees sector<BR><BR>With respect to health monitoring, Afssa suggested that a network be set up for the epidemiological surveillance of bee diseases, to operate continuously, managed by a single, reliable, independent authority. <BR>In order to improve the organisation of the industry, the Agency particularly emphasised the importance of setting up a technical beekeeping institute to serve as an interprofessional body for honey. This organisation would enable preventive action plans to be implemented and new tools to be developed to help beekeepers. It would also foster dialogue between different stakeholders, particularly between beekeepers and farmers and between pharmaceutical companies and beekeepers. <BR>With respect to regulation of the industry, the Agency recommended bringing back into force the annual declaration of the number of hives by beekeepers, purely for health purposes, and the use of coercive measures in the event of the regulations not being observed.<BR>In order to favour pollination, the Agency has made a number of suggestions to enable ongoing access of pollinators to nectar and pollen plants and thus avoid alternation between periods of abundance and deficiency.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Finally, needs in terms of applied research have been identified in order to better tackle the issue of biological and chemical pathogens affecting domestic bees, increase beekeeping knowledge and provide better understanding of the multifaceted causes of the observed disorders.<BR><BR><BR>For more information<BR><BR>>Report "Weakening, collapse and mortality of bee colonies" (pdf)<BR>Bees: a study to identify the causes of mortality<BR>18 February 2009<BR>News<BR>Highlighted news,Archives,-,Archives of AFSSET news,Archives of AFSSA news,<A HREF='PM9100V3I0.htm'>News</A>
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For the past fifty years or so, a sharp decline in the number of pollinating insects has been observed in many industrialised countries. Since the mid-1980s, the world bee situation has been characterised by a high mortality rate in bees. This phenomenon is a major source of concern for professional beekeepers and also for farmers and the authorities. Over 80% of plant species depend on many species of pollinating insects, particularly bees, which play a part in these plants' survival and evolution. The causes of this phenomenon have not been clearly established and are the subject of some controversy. This has led to a large number of studies being conducted on this subject.Historically, these disorders have mainly been attributed to biological pathogens in bees; more recently the presence of chemicals in the environment, which may be poisoning the bees, has been evoked.
A study to review the situation
In this context, Afssa decided to carry out a study to shed light on the death of bee colonies for French beekeepers, determine its causes and related risk factors. Based on a critical analysis of the nationally and internationally available scientific data and research, the study "Weakening, collapse and mortality of bee colonies" lists possible causes of this increased mortality rate. Over forty causes were identified, which highlights the vast diversity of factors which may be harmful to colonies. On the basis of this inventory, Afssa studied the health situation of the French and European bee industries. It examined the epidemiological data collected in France and attempted to identify the major risk factors involved in the current mortality rate of bee colonies. This stage highlighted the role of biological agents and in particular that of varroasis in the disorders observed. Chemical agents, particularly phytopharmaceutical products, also constitute a cause of mortality. It was not however possible to determine the exact role of chronic exposure of colonies to these products or confirm or refute the hypothesis according to which this exposure could have a direct or indirect role in bee mortality. This research also demonstrated thenecessity of improving the organisation of collecting and analysing epidemiological data. At the same time, the Agency analysed the workings of the French bee industry and the organisation of monitoring and management of bee health. The report has enabled the Agency to make a set of recommendations structured around five key areas.
Recommendations for gaining a clearer picture of the condition of the bees sector
With respect to health monitoring, Afssa suggested that a network be set up for the epidemiological surveillance of bee diseases, to operate continuously, managed by a single, reliable, independent authority. In order to improve the organisation of the industry, the Agency particularly emphasised the importance of setting up a technical beekeeping institute to serve as an interprofessional body for honey. This organisation would enable preventive action plans to be implemented and new tools to be developed to help beekeepers. It would also foster dialogue between different stakeholders, particularly between beekeepers and farmers and between pharmaceutical companies and beekeepers. With respect to regulation of the industry, the Agency recommended bringing back into force the annual declaration of the number of hives by beekeepers, purely for health purposes, and the use of coercive measures in the event of the regulations not being observed. In order to favour pollination, the Agency has made a number of suggestions to enable ongoing access of pollinators to nectar and pollen plants and thus avoid alternation between periods of abundance and deficiency.
Finally, needs in terms of applied research have been identified in order to better tackle the issue of biological and chemical pathogens affecting domestic bees, increase beekeeping knowledge and provide better understanding of the multifaceted causes of the observed disorders. For more information
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