The following was mentioned on the "Biobee list" as being reported
in the US publication "Speedy Bee".

As publications go, the "Speedy Bee" is anything but "speedy".
For example, one can receive the "fall issue" in spring.
I am surprised that it was mentioned nowhere else.
Since it was mentioned nowhere else, I wonder if it is correct.

Here is what the posting said [slightly edited to correct spelling]:

  "The European Union is banning the importation of honey from the United
  States over the failure of the United States to meet EU residue monitoring
  standards.

  In 2000, the EU gave provisional approval to countries shipping live animals
  and animals products to Europe. Those countries were given time to establish
  plans for monitoring certain substances and residues in their exports to EU
  countries.

  Now, the EU is in the final stages of amending its 2000 decision to reflect
  those countries and their products for which monitoring plans have been
  approved or not approved. On May 21, the EU Standing Committee voted to
  prohibit imports of U.S. honey because the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations
  (FDA) monitoring of residues in honey does not meet EU requirements.

  In the US, honey is the only animal product failing to make the approved
  list. Just two other products are being removed from the earlier listing:
  Aquaculture from Honduras and aquaculture from the Philippines. Several new
  products are being added to the approved list, including honey from Belize,
  Kenya, Latvia, Serbia and Montenegro, and South Africa. Honey imports are
  already permitted from most major honey exporting countries."

I stumbled around the website for the EU (http://europa.eu.int), but found
nothing.  Not even a mention of ANY meeting on May 21, 2003.

Can anyone confirm or refute this?
Does anyone on Bee-L still subscribe to the "Speedy Bee"?


                        jim

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