Your record book - digital and complete
No more paperwork before inspections. Hivekraft generates your compliance book automatically from your treatment data - always current, always ready.
September treatment on a note - but which colony?
Automatic documentation directly from your treatments
Vet inspection coming - scrambling to find records
Compliant PDF export at the click of a button - always ready
Withdrawal period over? Which active ingredient was it again?
Complete chronology with ingredient, dose and withdrawal period
Why the colony record book is mandatory
Since January 28, 2022, a colony record book has been mandatory for every animal keeper in the EU — including hobby beekeepers with just a single colony. The legal basis is EU Regulation 2019/6 on veterinary medicinal products, implemented in Germany through the Veterinary Medicinal Products Act (TAMG).
The regulation requires complete documentation of every application of a veterinary medicinal product. For bees, this primarily concerns Varroa treatments with formic acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid, thymol, or amitraz-based products. Even over-the-counter remedies like oxalic acid must be recorded — there is no exception for "natural" active ingredients.
Failure to keep a colony record book or inability to present it during an inspection can result in a fine of up to 50,000 euros (Section 89 TAMG). In practice, veterinary authorities conduct random inspections, especially when honey is sold or bee diseases have been reported in the region.
The good news: The record book may be kept digitally. The German THAMNV regulation only requires that records are "readable at all times" and "unalterable." A PDF printout from a digital system is accepted by veterinary authorities — provided all mandatory fields are completely filled in.
Hivekraft meets exactly these requirements: Your treatment data is stored in a structured format, mandatory fields are automatically validated, and you can generate a print-ready PDF at any time.
The 9 mandatory fields per Art. 108 EU 2019/6
EU Regulation 2019/6 specifies in Article 108 exactly which information must be documented for every medication application. Here are the 9 mandatory fields at a glance:
Date of first application
The day the treatment was started.
Medicinal product name
Exact name of the product (e.g., "MAQS Formic Acid Strips" or "Oxuvar 5.7%").
Administered quantity / dose
How much was applied (e.g., 6 ml per frame gap, 2 strips per colony).
Supplier (name + address)
Where the product was purchased — pharmacy, beekeeping supplier, or veterinarian.
Proof of purchase / invoice number
Invoice number or delivery note number as documentation.
Animal identification
Colony number and location — for bees, a unique colony designation is sufficient.
Veterinarian
Name of the prescribing veterinarian — only for prescription medications (e.g., amitraz).
Withdrawal period
Must always be recorded — even when the withdrawal period is 0 days (e.g., for oxalic acid).
Treatment duration
Start and end date of treatment (e.g., formic acid long-term treatment: 14 days).
When entering a treatment, Hivekraft automatically checks whether all 9 mandatory fields are filled in. Missing information is flagged so your record book always stays complete.
How it works in Hivekraft
From apiary to finished record book in four simple steps:
Record treatment
Enter your treatment right at the apiary — via form or voice input. Select colony, product, dose, and time period.
Mandatory fields automatically checked
Hivekraft validates your entry against the 9 mandatory fields per EU 2019/6. Missing or incomplete information is flagged immediately.
Record book generates automatically
A chronological record book is automatically created from all your treatments — per colony and per apiary. You don't need to do anything extra.
PDF at the click of a button
Export your record book at any time as a print-ready PDF — bilingual (German/English) and in the format accepted by veterinary authorities.
What the digital compliance book can do
Automatic Recording
Every treatment you document in Hivekraft automatically flows into your compliance book. No double entry.
PDF Export
Generate a print-ready compliance book in the official format at any time - for the veterinary authority or your own records.
Compliance Dashboard
Overview of the status of all colonies: Which treatments are pending, which are documented, where entries are missing.
Complete History
All treatments documented chronologically per colony. With active ingredient, dosage, duration and withdrawal period.
Paper vs. Excel vs. Hivekraft
Still unsure whether to switch? Here is the difference:
| Criteria | Paper | Excel | Hivekraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completeness | Easy to forget mandatory fields | No automatic validation | 9 mandatory fields auto-checked |
| Searchability | Manual browsing only | Ctrl+F, but unstructured | Filter by colony, period, ingredient |
| 5-year archive | Notes lost, ink faded | File on one computer | Cloud-backed, always accessible |
| PDF export | Not possible | Manual formatting required | One click, print-ready |
| At the apiary | Only with folder on hand | Laptop required | Smartphone — even offline |
Documentation per bee disease regulations
Hivekraft supports you in fulfilling documentation duties. Mandatory information such as active ingredient, dosage, application duration, and withdrawal period is automatically taken from your treatment data. This does not replace your own responsibility to verify compliance.
Frequently asked questions about the colony record book
Does every beekeeper need to keep a colony record book?
Yes. Since January 28, 2022, the colony record book is mandatory for all animal keepers in the EU — regardless of the number of colonies. Even hobby beekeepers with a single colony must document every medication application. The legal basis is EU Regulation 2019/6, implemented in Germany through the TAMG.
What information must be in the record book?
Article 108 of EU 2019/6 prescribes 9 mandatory fields: date, product name, dose, supplier, invoice number, animal identification (colony number + location), veterinarian (for prescription products), withdrawal period, and treatment duration. Hivekraft automatically checks whether all fields are filled in.
How long must I keep the record book?
At least 5 years from the date of the last entry. This retention obligation applies EU-wide. In Hivekraft, your data is automatically archived — you don't need to worry about anything.
Can the record book be kept digitally?
Yes. The German THAMNV regulation explicitly permits digital record-keeping. The requirement: Records must be "readable at all times" and "unalterable." Hivekraft stores all entries in a tamper-proof format and generates print-ready PDFs.
What happens during an inspection without a record book?
A missing or incomplete record book is an administrative offense under Section 89 TAMG. The fine can be up to 50,000 euros. In practice, veterinary authorities often grant an extension — but you should not rely on that.
Must the withdrawal period be recorded for oxalic acid too?
Yes. The withdrawal period must be documented for every medication application — even when it is 0 days. For oxalic acid (e.g., Oxuvar) applied in broodless conditions, there is generally no withdrawal period, but the "0 days" must still appear in the record book.
Do I need a veterinarian for formic acid?
No. Formic acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid, and thymol are approved as over-the-counter veterinary products for bees. You only need to list a veterinarian for prescription products such as amitraz (e.g., Apivar). The veterinarian field remains empty for over-the-counter products.
Can I export the record book as a PDF?
Yes. In Hivekraft, you can export your record book as a print-ready PDF at any time — in German or English (bilingual). The PDF contains all 9 mandatory fields and is formatted to be accepted by veterinary authorities.
Compliance book included in every plan
The digital compliance book is included in all plans - even the free plan.