The editor of the "Speedy Bee" has confirmed that the report made on the "Bio-Bee" mailing list was an accurate summary of the facts, and the story cited WAS published in the "Speedy Bee" as claimed. Sadly, he interpreted my use of the phrase "if true" as questioning of the accuracy of his publication. I should make it clear that I was only questioning the accuracy of the specific statement made on the "Bio-Bee" mailing list. The lack of even a single word about this elsewhere made me wonder if it really was in the "Speedy Bee". (That's why I asked if anyone still had a subscription to the "Speedy Bee". My subscription seems to have lapsed.) So, back to the actual issue - the EU's ban on US honey... Q: How many different foods does the US export to Europe? A: Small to serious amounts of nearly everything we grow or raise. (They appear to not want any of the genetically modified stuff, which is their prerogative.) Q: And how many food items from the USA are BANNED due to a failure of the FDA to comply with the EU's residue monitoring requirements? A: Just honey. Q: And which other countries can't comply with EU residue monitoring requirements, and have also had one or more of their food exports "banned"? A: A few "Developing Nations". (Formerly called "Third-World Nations" before everyone got so touchy-feely, hyper-sensitive, and "politically correct".) Q: But the USA does not export much honey to the EU, do they? A: The USA exported an average of $7.6 million worth of honey each year for the past 5 years. An average of $1.2 million of that went to EU countries each year. That's about 15% of total US honey exports. (Per numbers crunched by the USDA, and published in a document sent to me by the helpful editor of the "Speedy Bee".) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Political Correctness Annotation Section for the Humor-Impaired Who Might Be In Some Way Offended By Any Of The Comments Above ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1) The use of quotation marks around the name of a publication, such as "Speedy Bee" is a common way to indicate a title, and should not be read as an attempt at satire, humor, or parody. 2) There is no connection between the newsletter "Speedy Bee" and the very popular beekeeping product "Fischer's Bee-Quick". (http://www.bee-quick.com) To date, there has been no analysis of the respective velocity of a "speedy" versus a "quick" bee. I dunno which might be faster. Don't really care. 3) I honestly don't have a complete list of what USA foods are exported to Europe, but when in Europe, I've never noticed a lack of food brands and cooking ingredients familiar in the USA. (They even have Guinness ale and Voisin chocolates!) 4) No comment is made on the whole genetically modified food issue, except to quote Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels": "Whoever could make two ears of corn or two blades of grass grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country than the whole race of politicians put together." 5) No claim is made that EU residue monitoring program requirements are "unfair" or "excessive". Since most all of the food exporting nations appear to have been able to "comply" for all but a tiny number of exports, they can't be terribly onerous. 6) No slight is intended against any "Developing Nation". Sometimes I wonder if "developing" was such a great idea for any nation. 7) No slight is intended against the "Bio-Bee" mailing list or its members. I read some of what they talk about, even though I am forced to slog through the tedious "Yahoo Groups" user interface. 8) No slight was intended against the person who posted the report on the "Bio-Bee" mailing list. One is well-advised to question anything they read on the internet, including questions about the accuracy of what one reads on the internet. 9) Every possible slight is intended against the "Yahoo Groups" facility. Just try using it on a wireless Palm Pilot sometime, and only then will you understand just how incompetent a group of Java coders work for Yahoo. It's like a John Deer combine at the drag races. More sad than funny, but a complete disaster either way. jim :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::