Neasa Hourigan
Question:889. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to establish a compulsory register for all beekeepers. [3890/21]
View answerWednesday, 27 January 2021
Questions (889, 890)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:890. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for a compensation scheme for any beekeeper affected by the American and European foul brood viruses resultant from the importation of non-native bees. [3891/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 889 and 890 together.
I fully acknowledge the important contribution bees make to agriculture and biodiversity as both pollinators and honey producers. In this regard my Department provides a range of supports and initiatives to encourage and assist beekeepers and the national beekeeping associations. These supports include provision of a free disease diagnostic service for Irish beekeepers to help maintain the health of the bee population, funding to carry out applied research through the National Apiculture Programme, grants to national beekeeping associations and also grant aid to fund capital investments for beekeepers.
American Foul Brood Disease (AFB) and European Foul Brood Disease (EFB) are notifiable diseases of bees and are regulated by EU and national legislation. To ensure compliance with legislation and to support bee health, beekeepers are required to contact my Department and submit samples if any one of above mentioned notifiable diseases is suspected or diagnosed. AFB and EFB occur in Irish honey bee colonies and information on theses diseases and sampling process is available on the Department’s website. Samples can be submitted through the free disease diagnostic service. If a sample tests positive officials from my Department will contact the beekeeper directly to outline the appropriate steps to be taken.
In relation to the importation of honeybees into Ireland, this is allowed under regulations governing intra-Community trade with other EU Member States. The specific health requirements for trading in bees are laid out in Council Directive 92/65/EEC. All imports of bees must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the country of export. The reason for this is to ensure that imported bees are healthy and do not harbour pathogens or parasites that may be harmful to our native bee stocks.
The importation of bees is therefore subject to EU regulation on intra community trade.
Finally, it is a legal requirement under Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 of the European Parliament and Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin, for all beekeepers producing honey to register with my Department. This register is used to conduct the annual honey hygiene inspection programme.