>   For some, and apparently for the E.U. organic
> beekeepers, it is about the process as much as the product.
> The fact that all those countries, much less all those beekeepers could 
>  >come  together in agreement of what will be considered organically 
>  >produced honey  is amazing to me as an American rugged >individualist.  A 
> lot of comprimising must have been done.

Steve is quite right about  compromising. But it is good to know for 
everyone that the rules were not made only by beekeepers. Also consumers and 
government officials and representatives from other organic production were 
at the work.

Wing clipping has go a lot of attention. I can easily understand why it is 
in the rules. Like Steve said many feel it as cruel and unnecessary 
mutilation. Not even all beekeepers are willing to do it for this reason 
expecially in the hobby sector.

Trevor told about getting normal queens to organic beehives in Australia. EU 
rules say organic queens must be prferred, but allow 10 % of queens/ year 
to come from normal production. If more then the hives receiving queens are 
not organic anymore for one season. Clear comnpromise.

The aim for limiting the animal material is like in the other organic 
farming. Organic chickens must in EU be born from organic eggs, also the 
same for pigs etc. Even when growing carrots or grass the tiny seeds must 
come from organic production  ( can be normal if organic seeds do not exist 
on the market) . The idea is to have reliability in the eyes of the 
consumers. The whole production chain must be organic to be trusted by 
consumers..

I myself am not a true beliver in organic so that I would only use organic 
products, but prefer food without residues. And also food produced by 
minimum environmental effects. In shop organic lable is the only way to find 
easily food like this unless you know more about the producer.

Also in Finland it is very dfficult for many beekeepers to understand the 
organic rules because they are not logical when loking only from residues. I 
advice them to think the rules as a moral code a bit like religion. I think 
it is very good from the marketing point that organic rules also include 
things about animal welfare and sustainability.

In Finland about 2,5 % of beekeeping is organic, but the number is coming 
up.

Ari Seppälä
Finland
 

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