{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2008-889/article-25",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2008-889/article-25.json",
  "legislation": "eur/2008/889",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 of 5 September 2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products with regard to organic production, labelling and control",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2008-889",
  "path": "article/25",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "25",
  "heading": "Specific rules on disease prevention and veterinary treatment in beekeeping",
  "text": "1 . For the purpose of cleaning and disinfection of frames, hives and combs, sodium hydroxide may be used.\nFor the purpose of protecting frames, hives and combs, in particular from pests, only rodenticides (to be used only in traps), and appropriate products listed in Annex II, are permitted.\n2. Physical treatments for disinfection of apiaries such as steam or direct flame are permitted.\n3. The practice of destroying the male brood is permitted only to isolate the infestation of Varroa destructor.\n4. If despite all preventive measures, the colonies become sick or infested, they shall be treated immediately and, if necessary, the colonies can be placed in isolation apiaries.\n5. Veterinary medicinal products may be used in organic beekeeping in so far as the corresponding use is authorised in Great Britain in accordance with any relevant assimilated law.\n6. Formic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid and oxalic acid as well as menthol, thymol, eucalyptol or camphor may be used in cases of infestation with Varroa destructor.\n7. If a treatment is applied with chemically synthesised allopathic products, during such a period, the colonies treated shall be placed in isolation apiaries and all the wax shall be replaced with wax coming from organic beekeeping. Subsequently, the conversion period of one year laid down in Article 38(3) will apply to those colonies.\n8. The requirements laid down in paragraph 7 shall not apply to products listed in paragraph 6.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Substituted by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1584 of 22 October 2018 amending Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products with regard to organic production, labelling and control (Text with EEA relevance)."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in Art. 25(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Organic Production and Control (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/693), reg. 3(13) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1400, regs. 1(b), 3(3)(b)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Word in Art. 25(5) substituted (27.2.2025) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/82), reg. 1(2), Sch. 15 para. 80(2)(c)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2008/889/article/25",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T14:52:02.274006+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}