Bee health and international trade [risk analysis]

• Published in: Revue scientifique et technique (International Office of Epizootics) Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 172
• Main Authors: Shimanuki, H. (United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville (Etats Unis). Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center), Knox, D.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France 01.04.1997
• Subjects: ABEILLE DOMESTIQUE; ABEJA MELIFERA; Animals; APIS; Ascomycota - physiology; Bacillus - isolation & purification; Bacillus - physiology; Bees - microbiology; Bees - parasitology; BEESWAX; CERA DE ABEJA; CIRE D'ABEILLE; COMERCIO INTERNACIONAL; COMMERCE INTERNATIONAL; DISEASE TRANSMISSION; EVALUACION; EVALUATION; Fatty Acids - adverse effects; Food Microbiology; Food Parasitology; GELEE ROYALE; HONEY; Honey - microbiology; Honey - parasitology; HONEYBEES; Humans; INTERNATIONAL TRADE; JALEA REAL; MIEL; Mites - physiology; POLEN; POLLEN; Pollen - microbiology; Pollen - parasitology; RIESGO; RISK; Risk Factors; RISQUE; ROYAL JELLY; Spores, Bacterial; TRANSMISION DE ENFERMEDADES; TRANSMISSION DES MALADIES; Transportation; Waxes - adverse effects
• ISSN: 0253-1933
• DOI: 10.20506/rst.16.1.1008

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 regard to honey. In most cases, honey is imported for human consumption: the high purchase and shipping costs preclude the use of honey as feed for bees. For these reasons, the risk of transmitting disease through honey is minimal. However, this risk should not be ignored, especially in those countries where American foulbrood is not known to occur. The importation of pollen for bee feed poses a definite risk, especially since there are no acceptable procedures for determining whether pollen is free from pathogens, insects and mites. Routine drying of pollen 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 diseases and parasitic mites are present: American foulbrood disease, European foulbrood disease, chalkbrood disease, Varroa jacobsoni and Tropilaelaps clareae.