FACTS ABOUT WAX Part 4: Uses of beeswax

Dr Wolfgang Ritter

Wax quality standards

Pharmacy and cosmetic products

Beeswax is used as an excipient - that is an inert carrier - in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, for example in ointments and lipsticks. The European Pharmacopoeia indicates the composition of white (bleached) wax Cera alba and yellow beeswax Cera flava and quality tests and parameters regarding appearance, density and scent; also the drip point and the acid, ester and saponification values. Also tests for paraffin and fat are defined.

Food products

In food production beeswax is used as a separating agent in sweets and a covering agent for fruits. The food additive key E901 defines the parameters for wax, similar to the European Pharmacopoeia. You will not find indicators concerning the total hydrogen content or limits for the addition of other substances. Therefore products could be adulterated by paraffin or stearin and by esters and fats.

Beeswax candles

The German ‘RAL’ Quality Mark for candles ensures high utility value and consistent quality. For beeswax candles the quality mark states: “The exclusive term beeswax candle is permissible only if the burning mass of the candle consists purely of beeswax without any additives“. However, a total carbon parameter of 18% is indicated. As natural beeswax has a value of 14% total carbon, it can be concluded that a certain portion of paraffin is tolerated.

Beekeeping (comb foundation)

Quality parameters or norms for foundation are not defined by EU rules or regulations. For the registration of animal medicines, it is required only that a maximum residue level (MRL) be specified for honey and not for wax.

Concerning import, the World Organization for Animal Health stipulates under the Code for Animal Health which pre-treatment is necessary to avoid the importation of certain parasites including Small Hive Beetle and Tropilaelaps sp, and also pathogens of the diseases American and European Foulbrood.

Comb storage

Combs in nests no longer occupied by honey bees are left for destruction by wax moths with their main consumption being remnants of empty cocoons and pollen. This makes sense for wild bee colonies in nature. However it is not desirable when combs are being stored away from a hive, when wax moths should be killed or their development inhibited. This can be achieved with cool and airy storage conditions. Another preventitive technique is to store combs that have held brood, separate from those which have not. Frosty conditions are helpful: Nosema species, Nosema ceranae, which is common today all over the world, is very cold-sensitive. Wax moths cannot develop below 9°C and also their eggs are killed by frost. A comb storage unit outdoors or in an unheated room is therefore very suitable. An unused stack of bee boxes is well suited as a comb storage: with its variable size, it can easily be adapted to suit the needs. Sulphur fumes kill moths and moth larvae, acetic acid kills moth eggs, and Bacillus thuringiensis preparations kill the larvae. The best method is to not store combs used for brood, or to treat them before storage. In this way, residues can be avoided in storage.

Wax cycle

The wax yield from old combs with many larval skins is lower than from new combs and honeycomb cappings. As a rule, the general recovery rate is 30-50%.

Own production

Creating your own wax processing cycle ensures that wax you use contains only residues for which you are responsible. You can directly influence this by careful selection of the apiary location and the careful application of varroacides. You can sort the wax yourself from combs and cappings, according to its individual quality and process it separately. Even small quantities can be processed like this. To exclude previous contamination, you should not use old combs but only use wax from cappings and naturally built combs without comb foundation. Decontaminating wax against American or European Foulbrood is not necessary if you know the health situation of your colonies.

Processing within a beekeeping association

If wax is processed jointly within your beekeepers’ association, it should be very clear how the individual members work, how they treat their colonies, and if they are in a position to evaluate the health situation of their colonies. It is better to recycle the individual batches separately. The equipment used must always be cleaned carefully. The advantage of co-operative processing is that cost-intensive equipment such as wax extractors and foundation moulds can be purchased jointly.

Delivery to commercial firms

For smaller apiaries, the purchase of expensive equipment is unprofitable. Wax passed on to wax processing firms is reimbursed with an adequate quantity of foundation. However, mostly you do not get back your own wax. The risk of receiving contaminated wax is low, because nearly all firms recycle the wax at the correct temperatures and under stringent conditions. In the case of bigger quantities probably delivered from middle sized apiaries, some foundation producers will offer separate processing. You should make sure that the wax given to you is certified to be disease-free, with low-residue values, and free from adulteration.

Dr Ritter demonstrates to veterinarians in the EU how to recognise combs which should be melted

If the honeycombs are built in frames without foundation, the wax is of good quality. Once used again, the wax will decrease in quality due to possible residues

Photos © Wolfgang Ritter and Ute Schneider-Ritter

Natural comb construction

The problem of accrued residues and adulteration can be avoided by not using foundation. This can be achieved easily using the natural comb construction in local-style hives (with fixed combs) and top-bar hives. However, this is also possible in hive systems with movable frames. The combs can be stabilised by wires or wooden sticks. This offers the possibility for the bees to construct combs according to their own requirements. It reduces the stress on the bees caused by forced construction. However, the bees frequently reject comb frames with construction aids in the honey chamber. Therefore foundation should be used there, at least to some extent.

Honeycombs from top-bar hives or local style hives provide very high-quality wax, if they did not previously contain brood. These combs are stabilised with wooden sticks to be able to turn them for inspection

Trading with beeswax

China is the world market leader with an export of 10,000 tonnes of wax per year (2017). This is nearly half the total world export. The main exporters in Africa are Ethiopia, Cameroon and Tanzania. The main importers are the EU and USA. In recent years, the price of wax has increased sharply and demand often exceeds supply. Because of this situation, cheats can become active. From the adulteration detected, it appears that some suppliers purchase extra quantities of wax originally intended for candle production. Though it is declared as pure beeswax, this wax can contain paraffin. In general, it is very difficult to get a clear picture of the foundation market. As long as demand far exceeds supply, it remains improbable that good quality alone rules the market. Therefore, many claim the right to set norms and standards, also for the use of wax in beekeeping. The EU has recognised the problem and intends to create rules for the purity of beeswax.

Only candles made of well-filtered wax and stored before use burn evenly and without producing soot. Even the smallest adulteration can cause spraying when burning. The lighting process is best tested with small candles (tea lights)

Local production of beeswax candles is an important source of income for small scale beekeepers, as here in Uganda

What to take into account when purchasing beeswax and foundation?

• Treat extremely favourable offers with all due caution

• Buy beeswax and foundation of certified quality in terms of purity and absence of additives and adulteration

• Beeswax foundation should be examined for residues of pesticides and varroacides, and be certified as being free of residues, or containing only low residues

• Aim to create your own wax cycle without application of old wax, exclusively using wax from cappings and naturally built combs.

Caterpillars of the large wax moth Galleria mellonella can destroy combs. Wax with pollen and combs previously containing brood are in danger, as long as they are not melted. They should be stored separately

Comb foundation can be made from wax from your own bees or together with other beekeepers. It can also be bought from manufacturers. Only the cell walls are built by the bees from new wax. When buying foundation you have to pay good attention to the quality, otherwise the honeycombs may contain residues and adulterations

Dr Wolfgang Ritter runs BEES for the World, which supports African beekeepers to produce top quality beeswax and sell it on the European market while promoting the African way of beekeeping, most favourable for bees, beekeepers and the environment. The income from sales will be refunded to support African beekeeping communities via training provided by Bees for Development. We asked Dr Ritter to prepare an article for Bees for Development Journal from an article previously published in a German magazine. Parts 1 to 3 are published in BfD Journals 126-128. This is the final part.

Wolfgang.Ritter@beesfortheworld.de www.beesfortheworld.de