A growing consumer demand for organic products — and the increased resistance of pests and diseases to the chemical remedies that apiculture has relied on for the past decade or so — are spurring many beekeepers to think about a move to organic methods of honey production and hive management.
It’s not a simple matter of just giving up the use of synthetic chemicals and medications, of course — to begin with, going “cold turkey” on miticides and antibiotics is one fast way for a beekeeper to lose his/her livestock to pests and disease.
The Canadian standards for organic beekeeping require a number of stringent conditions to be met, before the hive products (e.g. honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, beeswax and bee venom) from a beekeeping operation can be “sold, labelled or represented as organic.” Did you know, for example, that organic standards for apiculture say that “destroying the male [drone] brood is permitted only to contain infestation with varroa mites”? Or that honey is not to be extracted from a comb with live brood in it? Or that queen bees may not have their wings clipped?
There’s a lot to learn — Organic standards address all aspects of the beekeeping operation: from making the transition to organic beekeeping, to Origin of bees, Location of hives, Forage and Feeding, Colony Management, Hive Construction, Health Care, Disease and Pest Management, right down to Extraction, Processing and Storage.
In general terms,
- The treatment and management of colonies shall respect the principles of organic production.
- The sources of nectar, honeydew and pollen shall consist mainly of organically produced plants and spontaneous (wild) vegetation.
- The management of bee health shall be based on appropriate measures such as selection of stock with diseaseresistant traits, availability of suitable forage, and good apiary management practices.
- When bees are placed in wild areas, consideration shall be given to the indigenous insect population.
- An operator of an organic apicultural enterprise shall prepare an organic plan providing a detailed description of the sources of bees and production methods. The plan shall include a description of colony management for diet, disease, pests, breeding and related problems with production, in accordance with this standard. The operator shall also outline the details of crop management practices, where applicable.
7.1.7.1 Products from an organic apiculture operation in accordance with this standard shall be from colonies that have been under continuous organic management for not less than one year before the extraction or removal of the first products from the hive.
7.1.7.2 During the transition period, non-organic wax shall be replaced by organically produced wax. In cases where no prohibited substances have previously been used within the hive in accordance with this standard, the replacement of wax is not necessary. In cases where all wax cannot be replaced during the transition period, the transition period may be extended.
7.1.7.3 Colonies and hives shall not be rotated between organic and non-organic management systems, except for colonies that have undergone a one-year transition after isolation and antibiotic treatment as described in par. 7.1.14.7.
7.1.8.1 The term introduced bees refers to replacement bees for established organic colonies — introduced bees are not established colonies. Introduced bees shall come from organic production units when commercially available. However, replacement bees (e.g. package bees or nucleus colonies) may be from organic sources or from nonorganic sources provided that replacement bees are managed in accordance with this standard for at least 60 days before the removal of organic apiculture products from the hive.
7.1.8.2 Honey and other apiculture products shall not be labelled or marketed as organic unless the bees were managed in accordance with this standard for at least 60 days.
7.1.9 Location of Hives — Apiaries shall be separated by a buffer zone of 3000 m where sources or zones of prohibited substances, or flower-bearing agricultural crops treated with substances prohibited in CAN/CGSB-32.311
(i.e. genetic engineering or environmental contaminants) are present.
7.1.10.1 The operator shall provide bees with adequate forage and water that are managed in accordance with this standard.
7.1.10.2 Owing to the long distances that foraging bees may travel, it is not possible to limit foraging activities to organic floral sources. While placement of colonies on an organic enterprise, in accordance with this standard, is preferable, hives may be located in other foraging sites, provided the operator can demonstrate that the area surrounding the foraging site is not treated or exposed to substances not in accordance with this standard.
7.1.10.3 Organic honey shall be the major foodstuff for adult bees.
b. In such cases, organically produced honey or sugars shall be used if commercially available. If unavailable, the certification body may permit the use of non-organically produced honey or sugars for a specified time limit.
7.1.10.4 Organic sugar syrup shall not be provided less than 30 days before the harvest of honey to be sold, labelled or represented as organic, in accordance with this standard.
7.1.10.5 Honey and pollen shall be maintained in adequate supplies in the colony, including leaving colonies with reserves of honey and pollen sufficient for the colony to survive the dormancy period.
7.1.11.1 Hives shall be individually identifiable (marked) and shall be monitored regularly (i.e. at one- to two-week intervals, depending upon the colony, weather conditions and time of year).
7.1.11.2 Records shall be maintained in accordance with this standard that document all apiary management activities, including removal of supers and extraction of honey.
7.1.11.3 Clipping of wings on queen bees is prohibited.
7.1.11.4 Bees shall be removed from hives with bee escape-boards, shaking, brushing and forced-air blowers.
7.1.11.5 Synthetic materials in bee smokers are prohibited in accordance with par. 1.8.
7.1.11.6 Annual destruction of bee colonies following honey flows is prohibited.
7.1.12.1 Hives shall be constructed of natural materials, including wood and metal. Pressure-treated lumber or particleboard, wood preservatives and lumber treated with substances not in accordance with this standard shall not be used in hive construction or maintenance.
7.1.12.2 Exterior surfaces of the hive shall be painted only with non-lead-based paints.
7.1.12.3 Plastic foundation, if dipped in organic beeswax, is permitted.
7.1.13.1 Preventive health-care practices shall be established and maintained, including the selection of bee stocks resistant to prevalent diseases and pests; the selection of colony locations appropriate to site-specific conditions; the availability of sufficient pollen and honey; the renewal of beeswax; the disinfection and regular cleaning of equipment; and the destruction of contaminated hives and materials.
7.1.13.2 The operator shall promote strong colonies and unite weaker, albeit healthy, colonies wherever possible, including renewal of queens if necessary; maintenance of adequate hive densities; systematic inspection of colonies; and relocation of diseased colonies to isolated areas.
7.1.14 Disease and Pest Management
7.1.14.1 The operator shall be knowledgeable about the life cycle and the behaviour of the bee, as well as related disease-causing organisms, parasitic mites and other pests. The operator shall also initiate efforts to restore the health of the colony in the presence of such pests, parasites or disease.
7.1.14.2 Every effort shall be made to breed and select queen bees for resistance to diseases and parasites, and to take preventive measures to control disease and pest problems.
7.1.14.3 Comb foundation shall be obtained from beeswax of the enterprise apiary or from other organic sources certified in accordance with this standard, where commercially available.
7.1.14.4 The operator shall use management methods or modified equipment to control pests and diseases.
7.1.14.5 Botanical compounds may be introduced into the hive provided that such remedies are in accordance with this standard and are not used within 30 days of honey flow or whenever honey supers are on the hive.
7.1.14.6 The use of therapeutic applications of non-synthetic or synthetic substances to control pests, parasites and diseases is permitted, provided that such substances are in accordance with CAN/CGSB-32.311.
7.1.14.7 The use of synthetic allopathic drugs (e.g. antibiotics) in organic apicultural production systems is prohibited. However, where the imminent health of the colony is threatened, such substances are allowed in accordance with CAN/CGSB-32.311 and par. 7.1.14.8. Treated hives shall be placed in isolation and undergo a one-year transition period. All the wax shall be replaced with wax that is in accordance with this standard, and all veterinary treatments shall be clearly documented. Before such treatments, the hive shall be removed from the foraging area and taken out of organic production to prevent the spread of antibiotics within the apiary.
7.1.14.8 The practice of destroying the male brood is permitted only to contain infestation with varroa mites.
7.1.15 Extraction, Processing and Storage
7.1.15.1 Extraction of honey from a brood comb with a live brood is prohibited.
7.1.15.2 The operator shall preserve and protect the quality and organic integrity of the honey, produced in accordance with this standard, once it is harvested.
7.1.15.3 Surfaces in direct contact with honey shall be constructed of food-grade materials or coated with beeswax.
7.1.15.4 The heating of honey for extraction shall not exceed 35°C, and the decrystallization temperature shall not exceed 47°C.
7.1.15.5 Gravitational settling shall be used to remove debris from extracted honey; sieves are permitted to remove residual debris.
7.1.15.6 Honey shall be packaged in airtight containers.
7.1.15.7 Cleaning products and insect repellents shall be limited to substances listed in CAN/CGSB-32.311.
7.1.15.8 The operator, in accordance with this standard, shall not sell, label or represent as organic, honey or edible products that are produced from a hive or colony treated with prohibited substances.
This information is provided here as a service to beekeepers who may be considering a transition to organic apiculture. For more information — and the official word on the subject — please see the Standards for Organic Agriculture, available through the Public Works and Government Services Canada website, or download PDF files of the Organic Production Standards documents in English or French.
We are an Uruguayan organisation producing and exporting organic bee-products.
Are you interested to exchange information ?
Regards
Christophe Lhéritier
Urimpex s.a.
Montevideo-Uruguay
I am intersted know is there any standard honey (like a reference tracable to ISO 17025 or International standard) is available. I will appreciate your comments.
Regards,
Shakeel
I am looking for canadian standards of honey. I will be appreciate your help.
Canada Agricultural Products Act – Honey Regulations
are available on the Government of Canada website at
http://lois.justice.gc.ca/en/C-0.4/C.R.C.-c.287/index.html.
I am looking for sources of bee products (pollen honey etc) kept by farmers adhering to the Canadian Standards of Organic Bee Farming. Thanks!
Interesting to buy existing bee farm in NB. Seller please contact above mention E MAil address
I would like to buy Organic Honey per your standards. Would you kindly contact me…I buy in a fair bulk. Addresses etc. I live in Ontario but will pay for shipping. Thanks…Riaz