Biosecurity at the Border
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 10:13 am
Bees need your help please. This is important for the future of beekeeping in the UK.
An increasing number of beekeepers are becoming concerned about the threats posed by imports to both free-living and managed populations of honey bees, the main concerns being:
Biosecurity: Small Hive Beetle (SHB) and Tropilaelaps were considered such a danger by the Government, they were made notifiable in 2006. They are both now established in Europe.
Varroa resistance: Recently, there has been great progress made, that may be hindered by continued importations.
Local adaptation: Imports are usually types that evolved in southern Europe, where the climate is very different from that in the UK.
The UK Parliament Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is examining the current position on “biosecurity at the border” and seeks the views and evidence of interested parties regarding the imports of plants and animals (honey bees are food producing animals). The link is here.
There is great urgency, as submissions need to be made by 29th January. Making a submission is easy and to help you, the main points and evidence are here. All you have to do is select those that concern you and include them in your submission, but in your own words please, not “cut and paste”.
Please make your beekeeping friends and local BKA aware of this and please encourage them to make submissions to reduce potential dangers to our bees and avoid what is seen by scientists as a bigger threat than varroa.
Links:
UK Parliament
BIBBA
An increasing number of beekeepers are becoming concerned about the threats posed by imports to both free-living and managed populations of honey bees, the main concerns being:
Biosecurity: Small Hive Beetle (SHB) and Tropilaelaps were considered such a danger by the Government, they were made notifiable in 2006. They are both now established in Europe.
Varroa resistance: Recently, there has been great progress made, that may be hindered by continued importations.
Local adaptation: Imports are usually types that evolved in southern Europe, where the climate is very different from that in the UK.
The UK Parliament Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is examining the current position on “biosecurity at the border” and seeks the views and evidence of interested parties regarding the imports of plants and animals (honey bees are food producing animals). The link is here.
There is great urgency, as submissions need to be made by 29th January. Making a submission is easy and to help you, the main points and evidence are here. All you have to do is select those that concern you and include them in your submission, but in your own words please, not “cut and paste”.
Please make your beekeeping friends and local BKA aware of this and please encourage them to make submissions to reduce potential dangers to our bees and avoid what is seen by scientists as a bigger threat than varroa.
Links:
UK Parliament
BIBBA