Honeybees are the most effective pollinaters in agriculture and raise crops in many cultures or even make them possible. On the other hand canola, fruit, mustard and others provide a rich source of nutrition. To protect cultures from pest infestation and to save crops treatments with plant protection products might be necessary. But although application of bee hazardous plant protection products is managed by the regulations of the German Bee Protection Act for many years, honeybee colonies are damaged „during work“ or even killed yearly.
According to § 57 (2) 11 of the German Plant Protection Act the Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI) has to investigate bees for damages caused by plant protection products. In cases reasonable suspicion appropriate bee and plant samples can be sent to the Investigation Office for Bee Poisoning Incidents. Investigations are free of charge for concerned beekeepers.