Apiguard Gel 12.5 g for Beehive Use

Composition

1 container of 50 g of gel contains

Active substance:

Thymol……..12.5 g

Excipients:

Slightly opalescent, colourless to pink granular gel.

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Pharmacological properties

4.1 ATCvet code: QP53AX22

4.2 Pharmacodynamics

Thymol has acaricidal action. However, its exact mode of action is not fully understood. It acts directly on the mites through inhalation and contact. Protein denaturisation is one of the probable modes of action in mites.

4.3 Pharmacokinetics

It is thought that 2/3 of the action is elicited by inhalation and 1/3 by direct contact through honeybees. However, the relative proportion of each route may vary with temperature and honeybee activity.

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Target species

Honeybees (Apis mellifera).

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Indications

Treatment of varroosis due to Varroa destructor.

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Dosage

In hive use.

Treatment in the hive: two applications of 50 g of gel per colony at a 2 week interval. Maximum of two treatments per year.

Method of administration

Open the hive. Peel back the foil lid of the tray leaving one corner of the lid attached to the tray. Place the open tray centrally on the top of the frames, gel side up. Ensure that there is a free space of at least 0.5 cm between the top of the tray and the hive cover board. Close the hive. After two weeks replace the first container with a new one according to the same instruction. Leave the veterinary medicinal product in the colony until the container is empty. Remove the veterinary medicinal product when installing the supers on the colony.

The efficacy of the veterinary medicinal product is maximised if the veterinary medicinal product is used in late summer after the honey harvest (when the amount of bee brood present is diminishing). However, in the case of severe infestations, the veterinary medicinal product can also be used during springtime, when temperatures are above 15°C.

Efficacy may vary between colonies due to the nature of the application. Therefore, the veterinary medicinal product should be used as one treatment among others within an Integrated Pest Management programme, and mitefall regularly monitored. If further significant mite fall is observed during the following Winter or Spring, it is recommended to use an additional secondary Winter or Spring treatment for varroa.

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Contraindications

None

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Adverse reactions

Target species: Honeybees (Apis mellifera).

Very rare (1 animal / 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports): A slight agitation of the colony during the treatment is possible.

Occasionally at high temperature some slight reduction in young brood can occur during the treatment period; this is transient and has no effect on the development of the colony.

Localised bee brood removal can sometimes occur in treated colonies. Normal bee behaviour involves removing or cleaning the gel from the tray above the brood frames with no effect on the colony; however, especially with more hygienic strains, some bees may occasionally remove uncapped bee brood from the vicinity of the product also. If this is observed, remove the product from the colony.

Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to either the marketing authorisation holder or the national competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package leaflet for respective contact details.

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Warnings

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:

Do not treat during honey flow to avoid potential taste tainting.

The treatment can be performed immediately after the removal of the supers.

Do not use the veterinary medicinal product when the maximum daily temperature expected during the treatment is lower than 15°C or when the colony activity is very low or when temperature is above 40°C.

Combine weak colonies before treatment.

All colonies of an apiary should be treated simultaneously.

Normal bee behaviour involves removing or cleaning the gel from the container above the brood frames with no effect on the colony; however, especially with more hygienic strains, some bees may occasionally remove uncapped bee brood from the vicinity of the veterinary medicinal product also. If this is observed, remove the veterinary medicinal product from the colony.

Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals

Because of possible contact dermatitis and irritation of the skin and eyes, direct skin and eye contact should be avoided.

Personal protective equipment consisting of impermeable gloves should be worn when handling the veterinary medicinal product.

After application, wash hands and the material being in contact with the gel with soap and water.

In case of skin contact, wash thoroughly the affected area with soap and water.

In case of eye contact, wash the eyes thoroughly with copious amounts of clean running water and seek medical advice.

Do not inhale.

People with known hypersensitivity to Thymol should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product.

Special precautions for the protection of the environment:

Not applicable.

3.11 Special restrictions for use and special conditions for use, including restrictions on the use of antimicrobial and antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products in order to limit the risk of development of resistance

Not applicable.

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Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

Not applicable

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Interactions

None known.

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Overdose

The use of a dose higher than the recommended (50 g gel per application corresponding to 12.5 g of thymol) could cause disturbances in the behaviour of the colony (agitation, absconding, or increased mortality). In case of overdose, remove the excess veterinary medicinal product from the colony.

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Special warnings

Care should be taken to ensure that the authorised dosage schedule is adhered to as improper dosing could deleteriously affect the colony.

The veterinary medicinal product should be used as part of an integrated varroa control program.

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Withdrawal period

Honey: zero days.

Do not use during honey flow.

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Incompatibilities

Not applicable.

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Immediate packaging

Aluminium container closed with an aluminium lid in a carton box.

Pack sizes:

Carton box with 10 containers of 50 g of gel.

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Storage

Do not store above 30°C.

Do not freeze.

Keep unopened in the original packaging.

Protect from direct sunlight.

Do not store the veterinary medicinal product near pesticides or other chemical substances which could contaminate the veterinary medicinal product.

Store away from foodstuffs.

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Shelf life

Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 3 years

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Disposal of unused product

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste.

The veterinary medicinal product should not enter water courses as Thymol may be dangerous for fish and other aquatic organisms.

Use take-back schemes for the disposal of any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived thereof in accordance with local requirements and with any national collection systems applicable to the veterinary medicinal product concerned.

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Additional information

Vm 17017/5001

8 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION

23 July 2003

9 DATE OF THE LAST REVISION OF THE SUMMARY OF THE PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

July 2026

10 CLASSIFICATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Veterinary medicinal product not subject to prescription.

Find more product information by searching for the ‘Product Information Database’ on www.gov.uk.

Approved: 06 August 2026

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Registration holder

Vita (Europe) Ltd

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