Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Consultation on a strategy to protect the health of Honey Bees
Defra and the
Welsh Assembly Government today launched a joint consultation on a
strategy to improve and protect honey bee health.
Honey bees
face a growing number of threats from pests and diseases.
Significant current widespread risks include American Foulbrood and European Foulbrood which are both subject to statutory controls, and varroa mites and associated viruses. Colony losses due to varroa infestation have increased since 2001 due to the mites developing resistance to available treatments. In addition, there are few alternative approved treatments. Potential exotic threats include small hive beetle, parasitic brood mites and undesirable species such as the Asian hornet, which prey on colonies.
The strategy seeks to address the challenges facing beekeepers given their important role as custodians of honey bees. It sets out a plan for the future direction of work aimed at sustaining the health of honey bees and beekeeping in England and Wales for the next decade. It recognises the important roles of various stakeholders in implementing the strategy - Government, individual beekeepers, their associations and others, such as honey importers.
Jeff Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Food and Farming and Animal Health, said:
"Honey bees are facing serious threats from a growing number of pests and diseases. It is vital that we do all we can to respond effectively to these threats and to sustain honey bees and beekeeping for today and for future generations.
"The strategy provides direction and focus for Government, beekeepers and other stakeholders working together over the next decade on sustaining honey bees. We are grateful for the constructive engagement with beekeeping associations over recent months to develop the strategy. Once the final strategy is published after consultation, we will need to work with the associations on a suitable implementation plan."
The Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Rural Affairs Elin Jones said:
"Honey bees play a important role in food production through pollination. The consultation on the draft strategy will be an opportunity to influence future action in Wales by Government and other stakeholders, including beekeepers, to protect the honey bee from the ongoing threats of pests and disease."
The consultation will run until 29 August 2008. A copy of the consultation can be found at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/bee-health/index.htm
Notes to editors
1. Five key outcomes provide the focus for future action by both Government and other stakeholders, including, most importantly, individual beekeepers. The five outcomes are:
(1) Effective communications and relationships operate at all levels;
(2) Effective biosecurity at all levels minimises risks from pests, diseases and undesirable species;
(3) Good standards of beekeeping and husbandry minimise pest and disease risks and contribute to sustaining honey bee populations - prevention is better than cure;
(4) Impacts from pests, diseases and other hazards are kept to the lowest levels achievable; and,
(5) Sound science and evidence underpins bee health policy and its implementation.
2. The strategy also identifies the roles and responsibilities of the different stakeholders in delivering the aims and outcomes. It recognises that whilst Government has a distinct role to play as a key stakeholder, beekeepers, their associations1 and other stakeholders also have important roles and responsibilities.
3. It sets out proposed initiatives and activities, and their relative priorities, for Government and other stakeholders towards achieving the strategy's aim and desired outcomes. Specific more detailed work plans will be developed by Government and other stakeholders and put into action once the strategy has been finalised.
4. The draft strategy covers England and Wales.
5. Further information on honey bees can be found at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/hort/Bees/index.htm and http://beebase.csl.gov.uk
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on
our website
http://www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development
To subscribe or unsubscribe to Defra's mailing list go to:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk
Once on the NDS website see Sign up
1 Beekeeping associations in the strategy usually refers to those at national level including the Bee Farmers' Association, the British Beekeepers' Association, the Welsh Beekeepers Association, Council of the National Beekeeping Associations, Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders' Association and Bee Diseases Insurance Ltd.
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Website http://www.defra.gov.uk
