As noted in the EBA report, the Tropilaelaps spp. mite has been spreading westward throughout Asia for several years. Due to its very high reproductive rate, the Tropilaelaps mite can cause more significant losses of bee families than the Varroa destructor mite, a known parasite of bees in Europe. High levels of Tropilaelaps mite infestation have been found in bee families in Georgia in the Russian regions of Krasnodar and Rostov, in relative proximity to the borders with Ukraine. Significant pest populations have developed there, resulting in losses of bee families.
In addition, there are several unconfirmed reports already from Ukraine and Belarus, which border the EU. The European Reference Laboratory for Bee Health (EURL) points out the complex geopolitical situation in Ukraine, which currently does not allow an overview of the epizootic situation in this country.
In addition, “due to the active illegal trade in bees between Georgia and Turkey”, EURL experts consider the risk of Tropilaelaps spp. entering the EU by this route to be “significant”.
Scientific studies have shown that Tropilaelaps could potentially be introduced through the transportation of bees, including batches of mothers as well as used beekeeping equipment and beekeeping products. Current import conditions do not provide sufficient controls to prevent Tropilaelaps from entering the European Union, the EBA concludes and calls on the European Commission to take urgent action.
Reaction of Moldovan beekeepers
In this context, the National Association of Beekeepers of the Republic of Moldova (ANARM) has notified the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA) of the impending threat.
“Under these conditions, the continuation of the existing import regime without appropriate adjustments directly exposes the beekeeping sector of the Republic of Moldova to a serious biological risk, potentially with irreversible consequences for beekeeping production, pollination and food security,” says Ion Maxim, ANARM Director. – Particular attention should be paid to the facts of unauthorized import of bee mothers by individuals, in particular, by regular bus routes from Ukraine. These mothers are sold on the Moldovan market through social networks and online stores – openly, with the indication of contacts”.
Given the high degree of risk, ANARM asks the authorized state structures:
- Immediately impose a temporary ban on the import of live bees and mothers from countries at risk (including Ukraine, Turkey and the Russian Federation).
- Suspend the import of untreated bee products and used beekeeping equipment from these countries.
- Strengthen sanitary and veterinary control at the border, including through additional inspection measures.
- Establish a national mechanism for monitoring and rapid response in case of suspected infestation.
- Officially and urgently inform beekeepers about the risks associated with this parasite.
There are bad precedents
A mass die-off of honeybees has been recorded in Kazakhstan. According to specialized associations of beekeepers, some regions of the country have lost up to 80% of bee families. The situation forces the Kazakhstani authorities to prepare radical changes in legislation that could reshape the entire local beekeeping market.
One of the reasons for the current crisis is imports from Uzbekistan. It is claimed that batches of bees from this neighboring country often cross the border without proper quarantine control. This contributes to the spread of such hard-to-treat infections and parasites, UPL writes.
