A novel solution for Varroa mite control is now available for beekeepers in the UK

  • MAQSTM Beehive Strip has been granted Marketing Authorisation for the use in the UK
  • Product is a breakthrough in the fight against Varroa destructor mite, a parasite of honey bees

Manchester, UK – March 1st 2013 - Beekeepers in the UK can now count on MAQS Beehive Strip, a new product that controls Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite that has been identified by independent organisations as a major contributor to the declining number of bee hives on a global scale. The product was granted a Marketing Authorisation on the 26th of February, 2013 and is now available for use in the UK.

 

MAQS Beehive Strip targets Varroa mites while they feed on honey bee brood. The backbone of this ready-to-use strip is a protective wrapping made with BASF’s biodegradable and compostable polymer ecoflex®, which is filled with the miticide formic acid in a saccharide (plant sugar) formulation. The strip’s innovation is in the safe and controlled release of formic acid vapour which penetrates the brood cap, knocking-out the varroa mites before they reproduce.

 

MAQS Beehive Strip was created by NOD Apiary Products, a company e stablished in 1997 in Ontario, Canada, focusing exclusively on providing solutions for honey bee protection. In a partnership sealed in 2010, NOD and BASF pledged to make the product available to European beekeepers. NOD has worked closely with BASF’s experts to overcome technical barriers and in registering the product for UK use. BASF are pleased to support MAQS as a positive contribution to improving honey bee health, which is of central importance to beekeepers and farmers.

 

The strips are already on the market in Canada and the United States. Applications will subsequently be made in 2013 for Marketing Authorisations in other European countries, with the aim of making the product available to as many beekeepers as possible.

 

MAQS will be marketed in the UK by NOD through authorised distributors, BCW Agriculture and Thorn Beehives Ltd.

About BASF’s Crop Protection division
With sales of around € 4.7 billion in 2012, BASF’s Crop Protection division provides innovative solutions in crop protection, turf and ornamental plants, pest control and public health. Its portfolio also includes technologies for seed treatment and biological control as well as solutions to manage water, nutrients and plant stress. BASF’s Crop Protection division is a leading innovator that supports growers to optimize agricultural production, improve their business efficiency and enhance the quality of life for a growing world population. Further information can be found on the web or follow us on our social media channels.

 

About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of € 78.7 billion in 2012 and had more than 113,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.