On 21/01/2012 8:35 PM, Bil Harley wrote:

 >It seems to me right and proper that Governments, like the EU, lay 
down rules that define what organic honey is within their frontiers. The 
alternative would lead to a >multitude of businesses selling 
certifications which would become meaningless, confusing, and open to 
corruption.

Which is the situation we now have.  Presumably the reasons governments 
are reluctant to be involved is around just what rules one imposes, some 
of the rules seem to me to be close to idiotic.  I.e.  In Australia all 
states require that all hives with AFB have the bees killed and the 
equipment either burned or irradiated.  The organic rule makers have 
decreed that irradiation is not to be countenanced.  There is no 
plausible reason for this decision, in fact it goes against the idea of 
sustainability. Plus by a government giving an imprimatur to a 
particular system, it then says, 'this is the best', which is of course 
debatable.  Certainly it is the role of government to police health 
issues, but not marketing ploys, except in so far as they are intended 
to deceive.  The EUs rules of course are no more than a non tariff barrier.

Geoff Manning

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at:
http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm