No bee-toxic sprays are allowed at the flowering stage, says the Department of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, as part of the enlightenment campaign to protect bees and other pollinators and in view of the flowering of fruit trees, as well as the transfer of bees near in woody or other crops.
In his announcement, it is stated that the label of the plant protection product must be carefully read before its application, with the aim of protection of bees. Failure to follow these instructions constitutes an offense under the Plant Protection Products Law of 2011.
In addition, it notes that all professional users of plant protection products (farmers, gardeners, municipal/community workers, etc.) are obliged before starting any spraying to inform the potentially affected beekeepers, so that they can take the necessary risk mitigation measures.
It is reminded that beekeepers have the obligation to write their name, address and telephone number (optional) in each apiary. Also, on the back of each hive there must be the appropriate marking, as defined by the Department of Agriculture (District Initials L, LE, LA, P, A – Beekeeping Registry No. – Hive No.) for easy identification and identification of the owner : e.g. Λ – 155 – 10.
In cases where it is necessary to remove the apiary from the area for any reason, the relevant Provincial Agricultural Office must be immediately informed of the relevant marking written on the hives or in the apiary, in order to identify the owner of the hives.
For additional information, interested parties can contact the following telephone numbers. For the Plant Protection and Beekeeping Branch: 22408521, 22408530, for the Nicosia Provincial Agricultural Office: 22819704, for the Limassol Provincial Agricultural Office: 25803900, for the Larnaca Provincial Agricultural Office: 24202840, for the Provincial Agricultural Office Famagusta Office: 23812130, for Paphos Provincial Agricultural Office: 26804601 and for the Pitsilia Provincial Agricultural Office: 25874031.
