Procedure

VN

Overview

Technical Specification CEN/TS 16817-2 (DIN SPEC 33972) describes a procedure through which pollen - in particular pollen of genetically modified organisms (GMO) - can be sampled by means of bee colonies. Bee colonies, especially the foraging bees, actively roam an area and are therefore area related samplers. Foragers fix the gathered pollen on the outside of their hind legs (pollen loads). Inside the hive they place these pollen loads into comb cells close to the brood nest (bee bread). Furthermore, foragers gather nectar and honeydew. Nectar contains pollen which fell from the anthers of the blossom into the nectar drop, or pollen which was dispersed by the wind and sticks in the nectar of other blossoms or adheres to the sticky honeydew of plants. Nectar and honeydew are converted to honey and stored by the bees in the beehive. Honey, pollen load and bee-bread may be used as sample matrices for the subsequent analysis of pollen as it is possible to concentrate sufficient amounts of pollen for molecular biological diagnostics. Microscopic analysis is used to identify the various pollen types and to quantify the exposure to the target pollen types in question. GMO exposure is analysed by molecular-biological methods: For analysis of pollen DNA quantitative PCR methods are used and described here in this Technical Specification (CEN/TS 16817-2). The essential principles for understanding this technical specification are presented in Guideline VDI 4330 Part 1. For GMO monitoring, the collection of pollen in the sample matrices honey, pollen load and bee bread shall be considered in connection with the technical pollen sampling (CEN/TS 16817-1).

Document: references other documents

Document: referenced in other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 134-03-08-01 UA - National mirror committe for CEN/TC 264/WG 29 "Pollen monitoring"  

Responsible european committee

CEN/TC 264 - Air quality