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I wonder how many folks, and not just beekeepers, realised that this week (4^th/10^th February) was National Honey Week. There was no advance news about it on the BBKA website or BBKA Newsletter, nothing that I was aware of on television or radio and nothing in our local branch of Sainsbury’s. National Honey Week is the brain-child of the British Honey Importers and Packers Association and it’s only four years since it’s introduction, but we could be excused for believing that it ever existed. BBKA may not be interested in it simply because the BHIPA themselves are only interested in selling their imported products. The BBKA website does give a link to the Honey Association website which is www.honeyassociation.com. Anyone with a web connection should open it and see what a host of information is shown there, everything from the ‘A to Z’ of bees, honey cooking, honey and health and much too much more to mention here. Our very own Rob. Andrews mentioned it during his two Sunday morning broadcasts on Radio Cleveland recently, broadcasts endeavouring to raise awareness of the forthcoming beekeeping class to be held at William Newton Adult Education Centre starting on the 21^st of February. British honey should get a boost in sales following the revelation in the Daily Mail that the three big supermarkets have been ordered to take honey off their shelves because of the discovery of contaminated honey imported from China. There is no mention of this on the BHIPA website at the moment and I have Emailed them to determine what it’s about. Just watch this space.

Well now, (two days later) I have received the following two emails from the Honey Association and I quote them verbatim:

31 January 2002

Suspension of importation of animal products from China

Statement from The Honey Association

On Friday 25^th January, a decision was taken by the European Commission’s Standing Veterinary Committee to suspend the EU importation of all animal products from China. This was a preventative measure following the discovery of unauthorised residues in frozen shrimps, together with a recent inspection visit by European officials which found that there were insufficient official controls in place.

With its subsequent publication on 31 January 2002 this decision now takes immediate effect on all future imports until the suspension is lifted, which may be only a matter of weeks.

Although honey is legally defined as an animal product, it is, in fact, a sugar product of completely different provenance – from an insect rather than a mammal or fish – and comes originally from plants.

Representation has already been made to Brussels and the Chinese authorities with a view to a swift resolution of this issue, and the exemption of honey from the ruling.

However, shipments already in transit for Europe over the next six week period are not affected by this suspension, provided that they pass stringent tests, as detailed in the Decision, at the point of entry to the EU.

Honeys imported to the UK are already checked to ensure they meet the Standards laid down in The Honey Regulations 1976. The Honey Association also undertakes surveillance testing regularly, as does DEFRA, to check compliance with the EU regulations.

Meanwhile, The Honey Association points out that this current concern is a precaution only, and that all honey on the retail shelf will continue to be perfectly safe to enjoy.

and

7 February 2002

Statement from The Honey Association concerning

Streptomycin found in honey

- The Honey Association is aware that the Food Standards Agency has published findings of traces of a veterinary medicine, Streptomycin, in seven jars of Chinese and blended honey samples tested recently.

- The FSA stresses that this is not a food safety issue. The public can safely continue to consume honey in the home. The concerned batches of honey are being withdrawn from supermarket shelves because although the drug is not harmful, by European law its use is restricted.

- Based on evaluation by the JECFA, an adult would need to eat more than eight 1lb jars of honey every day to approach the Acceptable Daily Intake.

- The FSA instigated the programme of testing as a precaution following the suspension on imports of Chinese products of animal origin. This recommendation, which came into force last week was due to concerns about the lack of controls in China on the use of veterinary medicines and other products.

- Last week’s suspension will stand until residue monitoring programmes are in place and EU inspectors are satisfied with the results.

- Meanwhile, all Chinese honey entering the country since last week is subjected to rigorous testing for these identified substances, as laid down by the EU, in order to avoid another such occurrence.

- The Honey Association, amongst other bodies, is joining with the EU to pressure the Chinese government to install the agreed measures immediately.

- Meanwhile, UK honey packers are testing their stocks for streptomycin, and will only release them if they meet the FSA guidelines as advised.

-Ends-

I feel sure that you will all be able to answer anyone who comments on what the newspaper may have said during the next few weeks.
Rob. also tells me he has been in touch with a farmer who is prepared to "plant us some borage on some set-aside land which would provide a bit of forage in the June/July gap, we would have to pay for the seed and the sowing which would work out in the region of £150 for 2-3 acres of land but some return would be the honey and pollen gathered by the bees. Assuming we could get 30 hives it would work out at about £5 per hive. If there is any interest amongst members we could give it a try". I have no idea whether 2/3 acres is enough to provide a surplus for 30 hives, but on the face of it it’s exactly what we have said previously regarding the use of ‘set-aside’ land. Maybe we should find out more for it could be quite a change from the ubiquitous rape.

Vera tells me she has been on holiday abroad and returned with some foreign honey, but that’s not all, as she suggests that if anyone else who goes abroad this summer will also bring honey home we could have a ‘honey tasting and guess what and where from evening’ to run in conjunction with the AGM in September. It sounds a good idea to me, but it does depend upon folks remembering Cleveland BKA when they are on holiday. So we look to the foreign travellers to help set the scene for the September meeting. Vera has also said that David Mead of Ryedale BKA is organising a bus trip to Stoneleigh for the BBKA symposium on the 27^th of April. If anyone is interested in going they will be welcome and should contact David direct on 01751 473381

There was a meeting of the YBKA Forum on the 25^th of January; the following is a précis of the notes I have received from our Secretary Ian Brown:

A, The proposal that Mike Badger should stay on the BBKA committee for another year was voted out.

B, YBKA now have their own website and they would like to include information from district associations. The website address is www.Yorkshirebeekeepers.org.uk and the webmaster is James Finnerty.

C, The Visiting Lecturer Scheme; The next VLS will not be until October 2003.

D, Bee Disease Insurance. This may collapse because of lack of interest especially in the north. Some districts said that they have already sent their subscriptions and are afraid that they may lose their money.

E, The ‘Gift Packs’, for new members, have been distributed by Gordon Jameson-Turnbull.

Will those who have received them please let Ian Brown know what you think of them.

F, Alan Jefferson said that the capitation fees imposed by the BBKA will have to go up in 2003. This includes £1.10 for direct posting of the BBKA News and for increases in third party insurance. The latter was brought about by a member of the public suing a BBKA member. The insurance company decided to settle out of court to save expenses even though it cost them £30,000, mostly in legal fees.

How many of us were truly aware of what Pandora’s Box really contained, but Peter Grainger’s talk in January gave us the best insight yet. There is clearly a lot more to bees and beekeeping than swarm control and honey. Most beekeepers have a definite affinity with nature and the countryside, and the interest shown by folks during and after his talk clearly demonstrated that. I feel sure we could invite him back again in a year or two’s time.

Our bees have again been able to fly most of the days this month. Their greatest problem must have been the very strong winds, and we frequently feel that here at Grindon they are the strongest in Cleveland. Located on one of the highest points in the area, (we look down into the industrial area of Teesside) the wind here is a real problem, but at least it never floods. The temperature is 12⁰C today and just about every bee in the hives has been out. They are returning with heavy loads of dull orange pollen, which I believe will be from crocus and snowdrops, both of which are beginning to bloom here. With young queens in each hive and bees returning with such pollen loads, it is reasonable to assume they are feeding larva, so now is the time to be monitoring the hive weights and ensuring your bees do not run short of food before the main nectar flow in a few weeks time. Remember, bees rarely die from cold in the winter, but what is often described as ‘winter losses’ is nothing more than starvation in early spring; and that’s unforgivable.

Now’s the time to be reserving your places at one or both of the two conferences to be held this April.

First on Saturday the 6^th is the YBKA Conference at Bishop Burton. The programme is:
Norman Carreck The economic value of bees,

and Recent research on varroa and viruses.

Adrian Waring Swarm control without finding the queen,

and Making and using nuclei.

Ben Emmett Beneficial insects,

and Sex life of plants.

The cost is £18-00 exc. lunch or £25-00 inc lunch.

Ian Brown will have booking forms and bookings must be made by the 25^th of March.

The second conference is on the 20^th run by the Northern Beekeepers Association and will held at Kirkley Hall, Ponteland. The programme is:

Michael MacGiolla Coda Bee improvement,

and Nuclei, establishment, maintenance and uses.

Paul Metcalfe Communication in honeybee colonies,

and A year in the life of a beekeeper

Jeremy Owen Alternative treatments for varroa.

Contribution by conference delegates Tricks of the trade.

The cost will be £27-50 including all meals.

Please see me for your booking form which must be returned to the Conference Secretary by 12^th of April..

There’s just room to say that I am including a copy of the new BBKA Chairman’s (Glyn Davies) New Years Newsletter letter; this is a direct copy from the web site. I’m bound to say what a breath of fresh air it is after what we have experienced in the past.
I look forward to future copies.

Kindest regards to you all,
Bryan Hateley