New Zealand is free of European foulbrood disease (and Varroa and acarine
and Tropilaelaps and Africanised bees...).  There is a proposal to allow
honey imports from Australia subject to a heat treatment regime that is
intended to reduce the risk of importation of EFB to a 'manageable' level.
 
The beekeepers here are, understandably, not overly enthusiastic about the
whole thing!  Most of you may think EFB not such a big thing, but in NZ (1)
we haven't ever *had* EFB and are concerned especially with the first few
years until our bees develop some resistance and (2) we just don't want
those greebies we don't have!
 
I would appreciate three things from those of you who read this, if you
care to comment to me directly or to the list:
 
(1)  General comments re: the above
 
(2)  Has anyone any experience or recall of literature associated with heat
treatment of honey to destroy European foulbrood?
 
M Hornitsky (Australian) has published one set of times/temperatures but it
was based on (1) five samples of honey only and (2) 'infecting' the honey
with one given strain of cultured EFB only (admittedly, probably the best
way to design a trial, but not the way 'real life' is.)  Hornitsky found
considerable variability between the honeys, and was unable to correlate
the difference in heat tolerance to honey pH, moisture content or any other
factor.
 
I would appreciate any comments from anyone with experience/ideas related
to the concept that honey can/could be heat treated to reduce the
possibility of carrying EFB infection.  I realise that as most of you will
be in countries that *have* EFB, the chance of work being done would might
be small...
 
(3)  Can I get some comment re: the possible effects of different AFB (note
*A* FB this time) that would be brought in the same honey (and not
destroyed with the heat treatment)?  Any anecdotal evidence of bees being
exposed to different strains and the results?  Remember that NZ has had
effectively no importations of honey, bees or bee products for about 40
years now, so I'm expecting our bees to have developed somewhat differently
with no pressures to show various resistances.
 
I'd appreciate any comments, to the list or to me personally.  Thank you
for your help!
 
Nick Wallingford
[log in to unmask]
 
55 Watling St
Tauranga  New Zealand