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Tue, 14 Feb 2006 17:16:49 +0000 |
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These are the UK regulations:
*_Summary of the Key Standards for Organic Honey Production:_*
1. Siting of Apiary – must be on certified organic land that must not be
treated with weed killers etc.
2. Hives – must be made of natural, untreated timber. (no mention of
plastics?)
3. Conversion period – 12 months of organic management, during which
time the wax must be changed to organic wax.
4. Origin of bees – 10% of the hives in an apiary can be
replaced/increased using non-organic queens or swarms, provided that
organic wax (from organic hives) is used. In this case the 12 month
conversion period does not apply.
5. Foundation and comb – must be of organic wax, except when an apiary
is first converted and organic wax is unavailable.
6. Foraging – for a radius of 3km (EU regs) or 4 miles (Soil
Association) around the apiary, nectar and pollen sources must be
essentially either organic or wild/uncultivated. This area must not be
subject to significant sources of pollution from eg: motorways, urban
centres, incinerators, etc.. (what hope do we have?) This is the only
significant difference between the EU and the Soil Association standards
in the area of honey production.
7. Feeding – must be organic honey (one of the Eurocratic
eccentricities!) or organic sugar and this may only take place between
the last honey harvest and 15 days before the first nectar flow.
8. Disease control – similar to other livestock husbandry, the priority
is to build up good health and vitality through positive management
practices. Homeopathic and herbal treatments and natural acids (Lactic,
acetic, formic and oxalic) may be used without restriction. Other
medication requires veterinary prescription, the wax must be replaced
and there must be a withdrawal period of one year.
9. Queen rearing – artificial insemination is allowed but wing clipping
is prohibited.
10. Extraction and bottling – no requirements beyond the normal measures
to ensure separation and product integrity.
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---
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