U.S. beekeepers now have a safe, proven, and effective means of controlling
Varroa mite infestation in honeybee colonies; Apivar® is a factor in stemming
U.S. honeybee colony decline

New York, NY –April 2, 2013 –Véto-pharma S.A., the French veterinary
pharmaceutical company specializing in honeybee health, announced today that
the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted Section 3 registration
approval of its Apivar® miticide effective March 11, 2013. EPA approval means
that beekeepers anywhere in the U.S. will soon be allowed to use Apivar to treat
honeybee colonies for Varroa mites, one of the leading causes of global
honeybee population decline and a contributing factor in Colony Collapse
Disorder (CCD). Véto-pharma is submitting approval applications for individual
states and anticipates this process will be complete by the end of April.

"Apivar has earned an excellent reputation as a safe and effective means of
controlling Varroa mite infestations in honeybee colonies," says José Nobre,
Véto-pharma's president and chief executive officer. "Now American
beekeepers can take advantage of the same benefits that much of the rest of
the world has enjoyed for some time: Apivar kills up to 99 percent of Varroa
mites in one application; it has proven safe and effective for more than 15
years; it leaves no significant residues in hive products; and, it is convenient
and easy to use."

Varroa mites damage honeybees by feeding off their haemolymph (blood),
particularly at the larval stage, where they weaken the host bees and introduce
other diseases, viruses and bacteria. If left untreated, or without appropriate
control of the Varroa mite infestation, colonies are subject to a high risk of
death and become more susceptible to CCD. As a result, Varroa mites are
recognized as the biggest challenge facing the beekeeping industry worldwide.