is Directive is the latest measure brought in by the European Union for creosote/coal tar creosote. In 1994, controls on the specification of creosote that could be sold to the general public were implemented due to concerns over the carcinogenic potential of certain constituents of creosote. New information has led the EU to believe that creosote/coal tar creosote may have a greater potential to cause cancer than previously thought and as a precautionary measure the EU has decided to take action to prohibit the use of creosote/coal tar creosote wood preservatives by the general public. To bring this about, the BERR instructed the HSE to remove the Control of Pesticides Regulations approvals for these products to the following timetable:
Approval for advertisement and sale of amateur creosote/coal tar creosote products by the product Approval Holder and their agents expired on 28 February 2003.
Approval for advertisement and sale of amateur creosote/coal tar creosote products by anyone other then the product Approval Holder or their agents expired on 30 April 2003.
Approval for supply, storage and use of amateur creosote/coal tar creosote products expired on 30 June 2003.
Approval for the advertisement, sale, supply and storage of amateur creosote/coal tar creosote products for the purposes of disposal only expired on 30 June 2004.
This means that, as of 30 April 2003, retailers are no longer able to sell creosote to the general public, and as of 30 June 2003, the general public are no longer able to use wood preservatives that contain creosote/coal tar creosote. Where retailers still have stocks of amateur use creosote products after 30 April, they should contact their supplier in the first instance, or their local waste regulatory authority. If members of the public have creosote after the 30 June 2003 they should contact their local council for advice on disposal. A list of affected products is given at Annex I.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/biocides/copr/creosote.htm
I would buy or borrow a hive and transfer that stuff sinks bees might bugger off, but saying that he might have only painted the back of the hive, no good worring now see what he has done tomorrow Kaz