SANTE/11956/2016 Residue Studies in Honey and Other Bee Products

To evaluate the potential accumulation and transfer of active substances and relevant metabolites into hive matrices, residue studies are essential whenever plant protection products are applied to melliferous crops or when bees may forage on treated fields.

Following European guidelines (SANTE/11956/2016 rev. 9), these studies utilize tunnel trials setups, or dosed syrup feeding studies to determine the magnitude of residues transferred into honey and other bee products.

The studies are designed for the determination of the following key endpoints and parameters:

🔹 Residue Levels & Transfer Rates: Quantification of parent compounds and toxicologically relevant metabolites in honey, nectar, and pollen.
🔹 MRL Derivation & Consumer Risk Assessment: Reliable input values for calculating Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) and establishing consumer dietary safety margins.
🔹 Matrix Characterization: Residue behavior and stability across hive matrices (e.g., honey/nectar, bee bread/pollen, beeswax, and royal jelly).

📅 Slots for the upcoming study season 2027 fill up fast. Contact our team or reserve your study slots today to secure your bee residue trials!