BEE HEALTH AND INTERNATIONAL-TRADE

The international trade in bee products is a complex issue as a result of the diverse uses of these products. This is especially true with r egard to honey. In most cases, honey is imported for human consumption : the high purchase and shipping costs preclude the use of honey as fe ed for bees. For these reasons, the risk of transmitting disease throu gh honey is minimal. However, this risk should not be ignored, especia lly in those countries where American foulbrood is not known to occur, The importation of pollen far bee feed poses a definite risk, especia lly since there are no acceptable procedures for determining whether p ollen is free from pathogens, insects and mites. Routine drying of pol len would reduce the survival of mites and insects, but would not have any impact on bacterial spores. Phytosanitary certificates should be required for the importation of honey and pollen when destined for bee feed. The declaration on the phytosanitary certificate should include country of origin, and should state whether the following bee disease s and parasitic mites are present: American foulbrood disease, Europea n foulbrood disease, chalkbrood disease, Varroa jacobsoni and Tropilae laps clareae.