From: "Dolores Roberts-Lusby" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2000 20:48:13 -0000
Subject: Standards



Two important events have happened recently. The Secretary of Agric
in the US announced organic standards for agriculture (excluded was
the beekeeping industry by the way) and the National Honey Board held
a meeting in Washington D.C. to identify Key Issues needing to be
addressed: At the meeting in Washington were representatives from the
ABF, AHPA, Mid-US honey produces, National Honey Packers and Dealers
Assoc, Sioux Honey, US Beekeepers, western States Honey Packers and
Dealers Assoc and the NHB.

As much of the upcoming meetings on the subjects covered will pertain
to quality control and honey standards with a federal register still
to be sent out for the beekeeping industry for commments as to
Organic Honey, we will need to keep on top of issues here in the US.

I have now talked to Washington D.C. representatives and the National
Honey Board for transcripts of the meeting or all future meetings so
that beekeepers that are biologically inclined wanting organic
products and are actually doing the work will have a voice.

Right now we have a new discussion list up and running and are
setting parameters on what is biological beekeeping. We will probably
have to go further and set parameters as to organic honey and what it
involves also.

Further, to gain power of position in a battle many of us have been
in now for over 18 years, a new either biological beekeepers Assoc or
organic beekeepers assoc will probably have to be formed to pass
written material into testimony to have points of view read and heard
and taken into consideration in the writing of the final rulings as
to what biological beekeeping actually is and what the product
standards will be.

Action is already being taken upon this. Input is now solicited.
Comments, etc....

I do not believe that beekeepers and associations not actually doing
the work should be setting standards for us now into it to follow
later. We should be the ones doing that.

Will Keep you all posted.

Sincerely,

Dee A. Lusby
Tucson, Arizona, USA