Trade Advice Notice on APIVAR 500 mg Bee Hive Strips for Honey Bees (for use in honey bee hives)

 The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) invites comment on the proposed use of amitraz in the product APIVAR 500 mg Bee Hive Strips For Honey Bees for use in honey bee hives. 

We invite written comment from 15 December 2020 to 28 February 2021 on the trade implications of this proposal https://apvma.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication/77411-tan_on_amitraz_in_the_product_apivar_500_mg_bee_hive_strips_for_honey_bees_for_use_in_bee_hives.pdf . The end date for this consultation has now been extended to 28 February 2021. 

Veto-Pharma SAS has sought a shelf registration for a new product to register the use of APIVAR 500 mg Bee Hive Strips For Honey Bees, containing 500 mg amitraz/strip. 

APIVAR 500 mg Bee Hive Strips For Honey Bees is for use in bee hives to control Varroa destructor mites which are currently exotic to Australia. While the APVMA does not approve label claims for efficacy against pests and diseases which are exotic to Australia, the APVMA will consider allowing such claims by registering ‘shelf’ products or approving labels, which can be supplied and used only under official direction (for example the Chief Plant Protection Officers of the Commonwealth) in the event of an incursion of the pest or disease. The product must then only be used in accordance with the approved label directions or as specified under official direction . 

Shelf registrations’ involves the normal registration process (the APVMA must be satisfied of all section 14 criteria of the Agvet Code, which includes consideration of efficacy, trade, and safety to humans, target and non-target animals, and the environment), however restrictions are placed on the supply of the registered product. Should the disease/pest become endemic the applicant may request that the restrictions be removed. 

The application for shelf registration of APIVAR 500 mg Bee Hive Strips For Honey Bees involves the consideration of a permanent MRL entry for amitraz, the setting of a withholding periods for honey, the recommendation of appropriate Trade Advice, and approval of the product label.