Bee Population: Accredited Veterinarians on the Front Lines Against Aethina tumida

  The health governance framework established at the National Health Conference also applies to the beekeeping sector. Faced with the threat of infestation of the French beehives by the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida), the Direction générale de l'alimentation (DGAL) is calling* for the rapid designation of veterinarians with expertise in beekeeping.   In the beekeeping sector, unlike in other sectors, the designation of an accredited veterinarian is not mandatory. For this reason, in order to make veterinary expertise available in this sector as quickly as possible, the DGAL is instructing prefects to appoint authorized veterinarians to carry out animal health control missions when bee colonies are affected.   This appointment follows a call for applications. Applicant veterinarians must be registered with the Veterinary Council and, if possible, hold the Inter-School Diploma in Apidology and Bee Pathology (DIE) issued by the Nantes School (Oniris).   Thus, approval of an application by the Departmental Directorate for the Protection of Populations (DDPP) allows a veterinarian holding the DIE to serve a five-year term. Those who can demonstrate regular involvement in beekeeping or recognized training in bee pathology may be appointed for a two-year term. Through the validation of prior learning (VAE)—a process yet to be implemented—they will soon be able to obtain the DIE through this route.   Once appointed, the accredited veterinarian intervenes in cases of suspected regulated health hazards. They investigate and implement the animal health control measures applicable to diseases deemed contagious in bees. Their role includes several tasks:

• surveying apiaries and colonies on the affected farm and establishing a diagnosis;
• conducting an epidemiological investigation (traceability, livestock management, treatments, and consideration of the environment and crops);
• participating in confirming the diagnosis through clinical examination of the bee colonies, screening for parasites or pests, and collecting samples for laboratory diagnosis (dead or live bees, brood, hive products);
• implementation of control measures to prevent the spread of the disease (isolation of colonies, establishment of sanitary zones);
• participation in apiary sanitation operations (burning, transferring bees, treatment, etc.);
• drafting a visit report.

  Compensation is based on the service fee defined by the decree setting the amount for veterinary medical procedures (AMV), which has been €13.85 (excluding tax) since 2013 and is pending confirmation for 2015. Pending specific regulatory provisions for beekeeping operations, it will be based on a rate of six AMVs per hour in cases of suspected or confirmed infestation by Aethina tumida.   This procedure must be implemented quickly, as a timeframe of only one month is recommended between the launch of the call for applications and the publication of the list of authorized veterinarians. A specific authorization, “beekeeping veterinary mandate,” has been created in the Sigal database to record the mandates of the selected veterinarians.   * Service note DGAL/SDSPA/2015-216 dated March 5, 2015; implementation deadline: April 15, 2015.