From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2001 22:45:14 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: line by line 61-63

Hi to all on Biological Beekeeping

Don & Clay have already written POV on lines 61-63.

Here is what was sent to me from Belgium on EC new regulations on the
subject, in this area being discussed now on BioBee:

4. Siting of the apiaries
4.1. The Member States may designate regions or areas where beekeeping
complying with this Regulation is not practicable. A map on an appropriate
scale listing the locationi of hives as provided for in Annex III, Part A1,
sectioin 2, first indent shall be provided to the inspection authority or
body by the beekeeper. Where no such areas or regions are designed, the
beekeeper must provide the inspection authorizing or instance with
appropriate documentation and evidence, including suitable analyses if
necessary, that the areas accessible to his colonies meet the conditions
required in this Regulation.

4.2. The siting of the apiaries must:
(a) ensure enough natural nectar, honeydew and pollen sources for bees and
access to water;
(b) be such that, within a radius of 3 km from the apiary site, nectar and
pollen sources consist essentially of organically produced crops and/or
spontaneous vegetation, according to the requirements of article 6 and and
Annex I of this Regulation, and crops not subject to the provisions of this
Regulation but treated with low environmental impact methods such as, for
example, those described in programs developed under Regulation (EEC) No
2078/92(5) which cannot significatly affect the qualification of beekeeping
production as being organic;
(c) maintain enough distance from any non-agricultural production sources
possible leading to contamination, for example: urban centres, motorways,
industrial areas, waste dumps, waste incinerators, etc. The inspection
authorities or bodies shall establish measures to ensure this requirement.
the above requirements do not apply to areas whre flowering is not taking
place, or when the hves are dorment.

************
As you all can probably see, the wording is similar! But is EC wording
applicable in the USA? Please not that 3 km = 2 mile

Now another thing to consider. If we end up loser than the EC in our
guildelines, then honey flows to the USA, but could be blocked going into EC
countries. If we end up tighter than the EC in our guidelines, then honey
flows to the EC, but could be blocked coming into the USA. -OR- we could be
equal in restrictions maintaining status quo! but as currently written the
EC regulations as I read them are very lack pertaining to varous dopes used
and in the end, the bees will be no better off and will end up dying from
chemical abuse, which on a true biological/organic naturally occurring
system that is good for health, should not happen (my POV here).

I will send Barry by snail mail a copy of these guidelines from the EC now
that I have gotten them out of my files for url posting for all to read and
use, as we discuss getting ready for the fall campaign with our US Federal
Register on US beekeeping industry organics criteria.

Dee