[Effects of the new veterinary drug law on the pharmacotherapy of honey bees (Apis mellifera) in Germany].

The new pharmaceutical regulations for veterinary medicinal products introduced in the course of the EU harmonization also have an impact on pharmacotherapy of honey bee colonies in Germany. In particular, the requirement to use veterinary medicinal products in accordance with the terms of the marketing authorization not only restricts the veterinarians' freedom of therapy, but also marks the end of off-label use of approved varroacides in honey bees not subject to pharmacy requirements by beekeepers. A deviation from the terms of the marketing authorization is only possible in the case of a so-called therapeutic emergency in the reclassification, irrespective of the sales demarcation/limitation. If such a situation exists, however, veterinary medicinal products for honey bees from other member states of the European Union may already be used in the first reclassification level, even if veterinary medicinal products with the same active ingredient are available in Germany. For this reason, the article discusses not only the impact of the required adherence to the marketing authorization, but also additional treatment options for honey bees in consequence to the harmonisation of the internal market.