I saw this posted on sci.agriculture.beekeeping and am cross-posting for
discussion here.
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Eyre" <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: sci.agriculture.beekeeping
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 7:24 PM
Subject: Re: Bummer!!!
It is a well known fact that most beekeepers are solitary individuals rarely
asking for help and preferring to sort matters and problems out for
themselves. This is one of those rare occasions where I request help from
the beekeeping community.
There is recent legislation in the US enacted on Oct 21 2004, to the USDA
and APHIS Federal Registry, Vol 69, No.203 dealing with the importation of
queen bees into the continental United States from Canada in particular.
While not an outright ban, which would be contrary to the WTO and NAFTA
agreements, this legislation is so draconian in it's conception to make it
difficult if not impossible for small/average queen breeders to comply with.
If as I suspect, it is more about trade protectionism, then this document
has been extremely well crafted.
A brief overview might be helpful.
Each shipment to the US has to be accompanied by a health certificate, the
inspection no more than 10 days before shipment. So a weekly shipment, as in
our case, will necessitate weekly inspections of our yards, and each
shipment has to be accompanied by invoices and export/health certificates.
The package has to be sent through a recognised port of entry to enable each
and every shipment to be inspected by an APHIS inspector, if the shipping
method doesn't meet with his approval, then it can be destroyed at the
shippers expense!
The importer now has to apply, in plenty of time, for an import license, to
the appropriate authority. Then the necessary parts of the legislation has
to be initialled and returned to the authority for onward transmission to
the port of entry, in time to meet the shipment. Stating all relevant
information regarding who, where and when.
I will agree, each point is not insurmountable, but can you imagine the
paper trail necessary to send a single queen to a beekeeper in Ohio? At the
same time I very much doubt whether that same beekeeper would even make the
effort! As I stated earlier, this legislation is extremely well crafted and
is just another nail in the coffin of 'free trade'.
The legislation comes at a time when the border has been opened to allow US
queens into Canada, but these restrictions are considerably tougher than the
equivalent legislation out of Canada. Another interesting point of argument.
The paper states it is impossible to keep bees over winter in Alaska, yet we
have a customer who has achieved just that using queens from Canada. It
would appear the legislation is crafted on flawed data and needs
reconsideration.
I don't feel I want to get involved in rhetoric regarding keeping the border
open, just to say, in my opinion, it is a retrograde step by the industry
and while I do not agree with 'tit for tat' action regarding trade it is
extremely tempting. If this is the treatment to a 'friendly neighbour' then
God help your enemies.
Now comes the uncomfortable area. We have to cancel all queens currently on
order and there are a number of you on our files, refund all monies held in
trust, and finally apologise for any inconvenience created by us, via the US
government.
If you agree with this position I would encourage each and everyone of you
to get involved, write to your congressman, and the address above, protest
at the injustice it is your livelihood which is at stake.
Respectfully,
David Eyre.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
David Eyre, The Bee Works,
5 Edith Drive, RR # 2,
Orillia, ON. L3V 6H2. Canada
(705) 326 7171
www.beeworks.com
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