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Subject:
From:
Peter Bray <[log in to unmask]>
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Date:
Fri, 25 Jul 2003 11:56:49 +1200
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> 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.

Here's an official confirmation.....

http://www.fas.usda.gov/scripts/gd.asp?ID=145985373

New Zealand has also been through this.  Functionaly, those countries that
export almost all or a significant proportion of what they produce have an
advantage.  The cost of running the scheme (collecting and analysing samples
in proportion to the size of the crop) is basically amortized over the
exports of honey to the EU.  The EU accounts for over 50% of imports of the
honey traded in the World - it is an important market for honey.

The US's position here is [one of] the worst.  Trying to run a scheme to
sample the US national crop of 90,000 tonnes (at the rate prescribed by the
EU directive) so it can continue to export $1.7million there basically makes
it totally uneconomic, unless of course it is paid for by "the government".
It's still uneconomic, it's just paid for by "someone else".   End point
testing (analysis of every shipment of honey) is allowable, probably cheaper,
but still uneconomic.

Our situation here in NZ is similar but better numbers wise.  We produce
8,500 tonnes and export 2,500, half of which goes to EU.  Argentina is much
better off.  They produce 80,000 tonnes (increasing) of which nearly all is
exported.

In NZ we put a voluntary levy on all product going to the EU and the cost of
the levy pays for the running of the system.  But it financially encourages
selling to other markets.

One might consider this is all a conspiracy against the US by the EU but
probably more likely the fallout from the "death is a preventable accident"
philosophy of bureaucrats running the World today.  And when it comes to
agriculture, the EU is the very definition of  bureaucracy :-)

Regards,
Peter Bray

_________________________________________________________
Airborne Honey Ltd., Pennington St, PO Box 28, Leeston,
New Zealand Fax 64-3-324-3236,  Phone 64-3-324-3569
http://www.airborne.co.nz  [log in to unmask]

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