These are the UK regulations:

*_Summary of the Key Standards for Organic Honey Production:_*

1. Siting of Apiary – must be on certified organic land that must not be 
treated with weed killers etc.

2. Hives – must be made of natural, untreated timber. (no mention of 
plastics?)

3. Conversion period – 12 months of organic management, during which 
time the wax must be changed to organic wax.

4. Origin of bees – 10% of the hives in an apiary can be 
replaced/increased using non-organic queens or swarms, provided that 
organic wax (from organic hives) is used. In this case the 12 month 
conversion period does not apply.

5. Foundation and comb – must be of organic wax, except when an apiary 
is first converted and organic wax is unavailable.

6. Foraging – for a radius of 3km (EU regs) or 4 miles (Soil 
Association) around the apiary, nectar and pollen sources must be 
essentially either organic or wild/uncultivated. This area must not be 
subject to significant sources of pollution from eg: motorways, urban 
centres, incinerators, etc.. (what hope do we have?) This is the only 
significant difference between the EU and the Soil Association standards 
in the area of honey production.

7. Feeding – must be organic honey (one of the Eurocratic 
eccentricities!) or organic sugar and this may only take place between 
the last honey harvest and 15 days before the first nectar flow.

8. Disease control – similar to other livestock husbandry, the priority 
is to build up good health and vitality through positive management 
practices. Homeopathic and herbal treatments and natural acids (Lactic, 
acetic, formic and oxalic) may be used without restriction. Other 
medication requires veterinary prescription, the wax must be replaced 
and there must be a withdrawal period of one year.

9. Queen rearing – artificial insemination is allowed but wing clipping 
is prohibited.

10. Extraction and bottling – no requirements beyond the normal measures 
to ensure separation and product integrity.

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