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New Zealand’s honey trade with US threatened by ‘honey laundering’

Media release

5 February 2010

New Zealand’s growing honey trade with the United States is in jeopardy if Australian honey products are allowed into the Kiwi market.

The National Beekeepers’ Association of New Zealand (NBA) says Australian honey is being mixed with international honey and exported as an Australian product.

NBA joint chief executive, Gemma Collier, says if Australian honey imports are allowed into New Zealand, New Zealand risks becoming a ‘honey laundering’ hub, a situation that would severely damage our honey exporters.


NBA welcomes delay to honey imports from Australia

 

The National Beekeepers Association of New Zealand (NBA) is very pleased with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) decision to undertake further work on the honey Import Health Standard (IHS). This will delay honey imports from Australia for up to possibly another two years.

“This hopefully will remove a major threat to NZ’s beekeeping industry – and to all the agricultural industries that rely so heavily on our bee populations,” said NBA joint chief executive officer, Mr Daniel Paul.


NZ honey bees under new threat

30 October 2009

New Zealand honey bees are under new threat from the varroa destructor mite following reports of resistance to treatment in the Auckland area.

National Beekeepers Association of New Zealand (NBA) joint CEO, Daniel Paul, said bees from a hive near Auckland have been tested in the field by leading bee and honey scientist Dr Mark Goodwin of Plant & Food Research, and showed signs of resistance to synthetic pyrethroid treatments.


Bee smart, spray safe

The National Beekeepers Association of New Zealand (NBA) is encouraging rural contractors to spray safely and protect the lifeblood of New Zealand’s agriculture industries – the honey bee.

NBA executive director Dr Jim Edwards says at this time of year it is more important than ever to spray agrichemicals wisely.

“Spring time is almost upon us and this is the start of the beekeepers’ busy pollination season. It is imperative that growers and farmers keep bees and pesticides apart,” says Jim.


ETS forestry deal poses significant risk to bee populations

24 November 2009

Government’s afforestation policy could potentially harm bees and put at risk New Zealand’s $3 billion per annum pollination industry.

The National Beekeepers’ Association of New Zealand (NBA) is urging government and iwi to take into account the significant risk to bees when replanting marginal land with sequestration forestry.

“It’s critical that we preserve the plants and trees that are essential food stocks for our bee populations,” said NBA joint chief executive officer, Daniel Paul.

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