Bees for Development Journal 105
REPERCUSSIONS IN CHILE FROM THE JUDGMENT BY THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE CONCERNING HONEY CONTAINING GENETICALLY MODIFIED POLLEN
Harriet Eeles
Harriet Eeles, Beekeeping Network of the Lakes Region, Casilla 7, Tegualda, 10 Region, Chile Keywords: genetic modification, GMO, honey legislation, pollen, South America
Repercussions of the European Tribunal’s decision for Chilean honey exports:
An interesting article appeared in BfD Journal 104 (September 2012) European policy on GMO can damage honey marketing in developing countries.This policy is still causing considerable concern and difficulties for beekeepers in many parts of the world, and we would like to share with you our experience of trying to face this new situation.
• Drop in final price to producers of 30% compared with 2011. • In the 2011-12 season, 35% of the volume normally exported to Europe had to be diverted to alternative markets at much lower prices. • Exports to Germany fell from 80% to 45% of total exports and to USA rose by 31%.
Beekeeping in Chile The latest national census registered approximately 1,500 beekeepers, with 500,000 colonies. Ninety percent of beekeepers have less than 100 colonies, and 4% have over 1,000. The total annual honey production averages 11,000 tonnes, of which 80% is exported. Until the European Court of Justice decision in September 2011, 80% of this volume went to Germany. Chile’s domestic, formal market absorbs about 1,200 tonnes, and the informal market about 800 tonnes. Honey consumption per capita is very low at less than 100 g per year.
• Production costs rose due to GMO pollen analysis cost. • Long delays in payments to producers. • Diversion to the domestic market, at lower prices, of honey of doubtful quality normally destined for export. • For small-scale beekeepers, access to credit and subsidies was suspended for 12 months, due to uncertainties in the European market. Action taken by representatives of the beekeeping sector:
The beekeeping community has a number of private organisations for co-ordinating activities including the National Beekeepers’ Network, the National Center for Beekeeping Development, the Association of Honey Exporters, the Queen Breeders’ Co-operative, the Federation of Beekeeping Co-operatives, the Association of Apitherapists and the Api Cultural Movement.
• Workshops organised to co-ordinate beekeepers and their presentations to Parliament, Ministry of Agriculture and other governmental authorities.
Co-ordination between the public and private sectors takes place in the National Beekeeping Board, and several regional Boards. In the public sector, in addition to the Ministry of Agriculture and its specialised agencies, other ministries that participate in the co-ordination of the activity include Foreign Affairs (ProChile), and Health, Education and Environment.
• Incorporation of topics related to GMO crops and consequences for beekeepers in seminars all over Chile.
• Formation of working groups to address challenges facing beekeeping, in particular the consequences of the European Tribunal’s judgment.
• Proposals to update the national strategy for sustainable development of beekeeping in Chile. Some results: • Two presentations made (November 2011 and April 2012) to members of the Agriculture Commission in the lower house of Parliament to stimulate discussion on the effects of European policy on beekeeping and fruit export sectors.
At least seven of the principal universities have training programmes for beekeepers, and carry out research. Over the past year, the National Beekeepers’ Network has built up important strategic relations with the national fruit exporters’ and seed producers’ associations, to deal with pollination and GMO issues.
• Meeting of representatives with Minister of Agriculture. • Implementation of online system to inform registered beekeepers if their apiaries are within 5-10 km of a GMO crop.
GMOs in Chile GMOs have been present in Chile since 1997, but are authorised for seed production for export only. The main species are canola, maize and sunflower. Due to pressure from the beekeeping sector, information has recently been made public on the location of GMO crops for seed production. However, the system for updating this information needs perfecting, and information is not available on the species planted, which leads to legal uncertainty among European importers on whether these crops are authorised for human consumption. The laboratory analysis to determine presence or absence of GMO pollen has to be done in Germany. As we have no accredited laboratory for these tests in Chile the high cost of this analysis has to be borne by the beekeeper.
• Publication of digital maps showing locations of GMO crops. Challenges that we face: • Search for new markets for honey exports. • Support for a 10-year moratorium on GMO crop cultivation. • Support to declare districts as GMO-free regions or areas, and for positive labelling of products from these areas. • Creation of laboratories recognised by the EU for the detection of GMO pollen in honey, and of plant species involved. • Campaign to increase honey consumption in Chile. 10
