BEEKEEPING
&
DEVELOPMENT
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FAIR TRADE FOR HONEY INITIATIVES FOR the fair trading of honey Europe have been developed and agreed by two Fair Trading Organisations: The Max Havelaar Foundation and TransFair International. in
Ten Latin American beekeeping organisations have been approved as suppliers for these Trade Initiatives.
MORE INFORMATION FOR
EXPORTERS HONEY AND BEESWAX Available from
CBI. Trade Promotion Section, PO Bex 30009, 3001 DA Rotterdam, Netherlands.
A new (but undated} edition of the publication previously reviewed in Beekeeping &
This 90 page booklet has much about the European, especially Dutch, Development 20.
*
:
The criteria require that the trade must benefit small-scale producer members of democratic and politically independent organisations, which are also open to new members. Production should be sustainable and all efforts toward diversification and reduction of dependence on a single crop is encouraged: the maximum honey crop that can be taken from any one organisation is four tonnes.
Quality is most important and all honey must meet the FEC quality standards. For the
THE NETHERLANDS: OTHER MAJOR MARKETS IN: EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
Source.
The Network April-lune [994
Producers This Fairtrade Mark
Fairtrade is independent
verification by
Fairtrade Foundation, an organisation set up by Oxfam and other agencies. Any manufacturers the
markelindg a product in the UK that originates in a developing country can apply for the right to use the Mark. It is a guarantee to the consumer that the
producers have been paid a fairer price, and work in safe and decent conditions, with respect for the local
environment
TRADE FOR WEST AFRICA WEST AFRICA has flush vegetation and ideal conditions for beekeeping, but > this activity has not been organised and
exploited to its fullest capacity. Honey and other products are produced but the quantities produced are either low
& SURVEY OF
-:
the initial stages it would help the West African industry if both honey and wax are pooled or all production is sent via a central In
body, aware of the marketing of bee products. This would help ensure a distinct
market or fail to meet the strict
market niche for the West African product and ensure that supplies are at levels that will allow big honey users to stock our
requirements of the overseas market
unique products.
place. This is a pity as beekeeping has to be one of the cheapest industries to set up and run. A shift in attitudes to beekeeping has started to take root in some West African countries
Dr Douglas Beoku-Betts
in terms of
HONEY AND: BEESWAX
ND
following an investigation into the costs of production by Latin American beekeepers. No Asian or African organisations are currently registered with the scheme.
The first “Fair Trade” marked honey was launched in Switzerland in November 1993 under the Max Havelaar label. Three licence holders expect to sell 400 tonnes of honey in their first year of trading. Starting in 1995 honey will be sold in Germany under the TransFair label.
markets for honey and beeswax. Data up to 199] is provided. Details are given of market supply and demand. the trade structure, market access, and how to find a buyer. There is valuable information here, which is otherwise not easy to obtain.
The Appendices give addresses of importers and refiners of honey in The Netherlands and Germany, and of beeswax importers and refiners in The Netherlands,
season ending December 1993 the price was set at USS1450 per tonne. This price will be reviewed annually. It was determined
This is
requirements of the export
welcome sign but goods produced must have solid and reliable a
lf you are a West African beekeeper
interested in collaborating with others contact Dr Beoku-Betts, c/o Bees for Development,
Troy, Monmouth, NP5 4AB,
United Kingdom.
outlets.
FIGHT
A
Bees for Development publication
