From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 22:14:46 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: shakedown

Chris writes:
> On a point of information, my understanding was that the reason terramycin is
> used is that it breaks down quickly and harmlessly unlike most other
> "mycins". For me the point is academic as in the UK it is illegal for
> beekeepers to use antibiotics anyway.

Reply:
Chris it is true that terramycin breaks rather quickly compared to other
mycins, but I have a label in my hand I take to bee association meetings in
the spring and fall and go over with new beekeepers in this area. I do so
because our Federal Code of Regulations #40 has a zero tolerance for honey
and the "pfizer label" states:

Now Chris we are still talking foul (EFB) treatments here, and beekeepers
are doing it not MAFF like in your country. Our label is the law. The label
states: All terramycin medicated supplements should be fed early in the
spring or fall and "consumed" by the bees fefore main honey flow begins to
avoid contamination of "production" honey. Honey or syrup stored during
medication periods in combs for surplus honey should be removed following
final medication of the bee colony (means taken out physically by the
beekeeper if the bees do not consume it within 30 days) and must not be used
for human food (combs comingled cannot legally under law be extracted).
Honey from bee colonies likely to be infected with foul brood should not be
used for preparation of medicated syrup supplements since it may be
contaminated with spores of foul brood and my result in spreading the
disease. (now Chris I am not pointing out the still active spores here, I
have already done that in a prior post and I think most beekeepers, and we
have even talked about it here, that store bought honey is risky for feed
because of this problem. This beekeepers seem to realize that something is
wrong and their bees can get sick).

But many beekeepers are and do extract honey from sick and treated colonies
and this is wrong under our US law and in addition the label says not to do
it. Now lwe hve talked about wax being migrated within a colony here on
BioBee. Honey left in frames that have been treated and contain stored honey
is still medicated honey and not to be extracted. To do so is then the
choice of the beekeeper in following the law, no more and no less.

Yes treatments are to stop 30 days prior. Yes terramycin breaks down faster
than other mycins, but depending upon the dosage given and the beekeeper
doing the mixing, this varies considerably considering that there is TM 25,
50 and 100 around for purchase, all with varing mixing directions. Further
you are supposing that it is mixed and given correctly.Because the breakdown
takes longer then 30 days depending upon the mixture Pfizer states on the
label that any medicated feed left within the colony is to be removed beyond
the 30 day period.

I will say no more, because I know everyone follows the legal label. And
like you said Chris, for you the point is academic as in the UK it is
illegal for beekeepers to use antibiotics anyway. Here beekeepers doing the
medicating is the norm.

Best regards,

Dee-