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The comment period on allowing
New Zealand and Australian honey bees into the U.S. unencumbered
by quaranties, or even inspections is about over. Is this what
U.S. beekeepers want? Is this what you want?
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Do we want New Zealand and
Australian honey bees in the U.S.? Apparently we do.
In August this year APHIS put
out a news release (distributed here and in the magazine we publish)
on the plan to allow imports of honey bees from New Zealand and
Australia. They had previously made this announcement, citing
trade laws supporting the action pending analysis of lack of
disease or pest differences between these countries.
Essentially, their analysis showed, so they said, that their
countries had the same pests as found in the U.S., thus the free
flow of bees from there to here would pose no new or exotic pests
or problems to U.S. beekeeping. U.S. beekeepers and others were
asked to make comments on why this should, or should not occur.
These comments had to be based on science, and not on marketing
arguments.Very, very few comments were made. However, Canada
has been doing this for several years with, again, no apparent
problems. If enacted, bees would be allowed into the U.S. with
no inspections and no quarantines. Most states have stricter
border crossing laws in place. This is, in the opinion of some,
akin to the fox guarding the chicken house. We are asked to trust
foreign exporters more than we are asked to trust U.S. State
Inspectors. On October 29 another hearing was held with APHIS,
New Zealand and Australian representatives present to review
the very few comments that were submitted, and to answer questions
of anybody present. Only 2 U.S. beekeepers were present. The
questions they asked were not answered. The representatives were
not impressed, and again stressed that this should occur. The
absolute end of this comment period is November 18, 2002.
One of the primary arguments presented by both countries is that
they have in place incredibly tight security, so that nothing
alien can cross their borders, and thus be transmitted to the
U. S. The irony here is, of course, that New Zealand found varroa
long after it was established, and this week, Small Hive Beetle
was found in Australia. The credibility of these arguments is
certainly in question. What will the next "Varroa"
be? If you feel this is important enough to examine further then
the deadline for the comment period should be extended for at
least a couple of months. Until the end of January anyway. To
comment send an email TODAY to regulations@aphis.usda.gov
The subject MUST be "Docket No. 98-109-1"
Include your name and postal address to show that you are a US
Citizen. Ask to extend the comment period on live bee imports
until Jan 31, 2003 so that we all have time to figure this out,
and maybe even help the USDA fix it. And include YOUR comments
on why this should, or shouldn't happen. Arguments of the $$$
involved won't work. It can't be a marketing issue. It has to
be science to be considered.
I was just emailed a thought about all of this. Quoting Bogart,
If you don't do something now "You'll regret it maybe not
today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your
life. Following shortly will be the announcement and confirmation
of finding small hive beetle in Australia. Read and proceed with
caution.
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Kim Flottum
Editor, Bee Culture Magazine
http://www.airoot.com/beeculture/index.htm
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