Brief Introduction to Requirements for Organic Beekeeping

according to the European Regulation (EEC) 2092/91, the US NationalOrganic Program (NOP), and CERES standard interpretation

1.      What organic beekeeping means:

•     Takes place in unpolluted areas

•     Uses natural materials, methods, and feed

•     Avoids use of conventional veterinary medicine and pesticides.

2.      Introduction:

Organic beekeeping is clearly defined by Annex I of EU regulation, while NOP Final Rule until now does not include specific rules for beekeeping. Certifiers are authorised, however, to certify beekeeping according to NOP, adapting general NOP husbandry rules to beekeeping.

3.      Apiary siting:

•     The area within a radius of 3 km around the beehives must be predominantly covered by natural vegetation and/or organic or low input farmland; this is especially relevant for crops visited by bees for feeding (fruit orchards, rapeseed, etc.); no major sources of pollution (industry, roads, etc. ) must be within this area

•     The area must have enough sources of pollen, nectare, and clean water

•     These requirements rule for all apiary sites, including migration sites.

4.      Reproduction:

•     Stock must be built up from own or organic colonies, using swarms or colony division

•     Colonies purchased from conventional beekeepers must undergo a one year transition period.

5.      Hives and other materials, cleanness:

•     Beehives must be built mainly from natural materials, like unpainted timber

•     Tools, containers and other material used for colony management, harvest, and post harvest handling, must be appropriate for foodstuff and not contain any polluting substances

•     Beeswax must be from organic apiaries, or built up from own wax, using only the caps, or proven by analysis to be free of pesticide residues; a closed circle for beeswax must be built up

•     Hives must be kept clean, harvest and postharvest handling must be performed under adequate hygienic conditions.

6.      Feeding:

•     Colonies must be left enough honey for feeding during cold or dry seasons

•     Only in case that really required by climatic conditions, artificial feeding may be used; exclusively organic sugar may be used for this purpose.

7.      Veterinary treatments:

•     The beekeeper must prevent diseases and pests, by selecting a resistant breed, controlling drones, changing queens, keeping hives and materials clean, etc.

•     Only formic, lactic, acetic, and oxalic acids, menthol, thymol, eucalyptol, and camphor may be used for Varroa control

8.      Conversion period:

•     Colonies have to undergo a one year conversion period

•     During this period, beeswax has to be replaced by wax from organic apiaries, or a new stock has to be built up, using only the caps

•     In case that a colony is treated with conventional veterinary medicine, it has to be separated and undergo a one year conversion period; in case of treatment with conventional acaricides, in addition, the beeswax must be replaced once more.

9.      Records, traceability, and labels:

•     The beekeeper must present an organic management plan

•     A detailed map of the apiary site and its surrounding must be presented; relevant vegetation, the apiary site, and eventual sources of pollution must be marked on the map

•     A diary must be kept for each single colony, including information on general handling, reproduction, veterinary treatments, yields, and special observations

•     After harvest and before transporting or storing honey or other bees products, these must be adequately labelled; labels must include information on type and quantity of product, date of harvest, origin, organic condition, name of certifier

•     Traceability must be assured as far back as possible.

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Please be aware that this is only a selection of essential requirements of the organic standards, meant as an introduction. The operator, of course, has to learn about and meet all requirements of the respective standard.

Standard Inspection Program for Organic Beekeeping

according to the European Regulation (EEC) 2092/91, the US National Organic Program (NOP), and CERES standard interpretation

As a minimum, the inspection of organic beekeepers will cover the following aspects:

Please be aware, that these are the minimum requirements. In many cases, additional issues will have to be included in the inspection schedule!