The European Union is also mobilising to save our bees

On 23 January 2018, the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development debated a motion for a resolution focusing on bees and the world of beekeeping. It was approved by 38 votes in favour and 1 against. It will then have to be submitted to the entire European Parliament, probably during the next plenary session from 28 February to 1 March. But concretely, what is this proposal about? Read on for details.

To sum up, the main points are as follows: demand for a 50% increase in funding for beekeeping and more support for European beekeepers; proposal for the banning of pesticides harmful to bees and more investment to develop healthier alternatives to the current ones; demand for an action plan to reduce rampant bee mortality; prospect of measures to stop the importation of counterfeit honey. But let us see them in more detail.

The Commission on Agriculture proposes a 50% increase in the European budget for beekeeping support programmes. In addition, it calls for a new direct support scheme for beekeepers on the basis of the number of their colonies in the development of a common agricultural policy for the post-2020 period. It was also proposed to include forms of facilitation such as, for example, tax relief. The mitigation of strict road transport rules to promote nomadism was also included in the proposal.

In some member states, a decline of more than 50% in the number of bee colonies has been recorded. For this reason, an effective strategy to improve the health status of bees, protect them and promote colony repopulation is called for. In particular, it is called for: a European plan to counteract bee mortality; breeding plans to have bees resilient to invasive species such as the Varroa descructor mite, Vespa velutina and the American Plague; more research to develop innovative treatments and their availability; the banning of pesticides found to be harmful to bees, including neonicotinoids, and measures to develop safer alternatives. a better training programme to increase bee survival. advance warnings of pesticide spraying periods to prevent bee damage.

The Commission points the finger at the ever-increasing import of counterfeit honey. It advocates the implementation of regulations to counter this phenomenon, which is enormously damaging to both beekeepers and consumers. In particular, it supports the development of effective laboratory testing procedures to identify the increasingly sophisticated adulterations of honey. Furthermore, it calls for stricter rules to punish those who do not comply with European regulations. It also calls for more controls on imported products on the market and would like to carry out sampling and analysis of such honey. This is proposed to strengthen traceability requirements throughout the distribution chain, for example by introducing labelling that clearly indicates the country of origin of honey and other bee products.

It is also considered essential that the benefits of honey consumption and the therapeutic uses of other bee products, such as pollen, propolis and royal jelly, are promoted among the public, and especially among children. The Commission also advocates the importance of encouraging the consumption of local and organic products, supporting the experiences of local markets and reducing the distribution chain, for greater transparency and guarantee of quality.

Even without waiting for the European Parliament to give its opinion, you can already start doing something concrete by following these guidelines. With the 3Bee beehive monitoring system, in fact, you can check the health of your hive, prevent diseases and plan targeted treatments. The geo-localisation system is a sure guarantee of the provenance of honey, providing the consumer with the certainty of the quality of the product he brings to his table. The aim of 3Bee is to reduce chemical treatments on bees, facilitate the work of beekeepers and guarantee a clear distribution chain that is as short as possible. Curious to find out more about the monitoring system? Go to the page Hive-Tech.