Organic beekeeping in Luxembourg Summary comparison of policies (as of July 2014) (Not exhaustive)
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2001/110/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to honey Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 EU organic label Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 of 5 September 2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/20 07 on organic production and labelling of organic products in regards to organic production, labelling and control Note that there are updates since June 2013 that may be relevant though have not been taken into consideration in the comparison table below: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 354/2014 of 8 April 2014 amending and correcting Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products in regards to organic production, labelling and control Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 836/2014 of 31 July 2014 amending Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products in regards to organic production, labelling and control Marque nationale du miel: quality of honey label Règlement grand-ducal du 21 juillet 2012 portant création de la Marque nationale du miel. Lastenheft der Nationalmarke für Honig selon article 4 du règlement grand-ducal du 21 juillet 2012 portant création de Ia Marque du miel national Marque nationale du miel: quality of honey label
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Bio-Lëtzebuerg (BL)
Bio-Lëtzebuerg (BL) Their rules for beekeeping to obtain their organic label are the same as the EU's. www.bio-letzebuerg.lu Control: Users of Bio LËTZEBUERG are controlled by one of the approved inspection bodies and certified by the Label Commission. Guidelines: Users of Bio LËTZEBUERG work according to the guidelines of the EU organic regulations and undertake additional to comply with the three points from the team: 1. Logo BL 2015 A conversion of the entire operation is mandatory. http://www.bio-letzebuerg.lu/index.php/bio-letzebuerg/kontrolle-richtlinien-bio-label Richtlinien Bienenhaltung und Imkereierzeugnisse (Guidelines beekeeping and apiculture products) http://www.bio-letzebuerg.lu/index.php/demeter/kontrolle-richtlinien A system of bee keeping that respects a colony's natural integrity will not only reduce stress and encourage healthy bees, it will also be commercially viable. http://www.biodynamic.org.uk/farming-amp-gardening/bees/ Standards for Beekeeping and Hive Products June 2007: http://www.biodynamic.org.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/Documents/Demeter_Standards/Demeter_International_Bee_Standards.pd f
Glossary / Definitions http://www.beesource.com/resources/elements-of-beekeeping/beekeeping-glossary/ Term Definition / Explanation The Buckfast contains heritage from mainly Apis mellifera ligustica (North Buckfast bee Italian), Apis mellifera mellifera (English), Apis mellifera mellifera (French), Apis mellifera anatolica (Turkish) and Apis mellifera cecropia (Greek). The Buckfast bee of today also contains heritage from two rare and docile African stocks Apis mellifera sahariensis and the Apis mellifera monticola, but not the "Africanized" Apis mellifera scutellata. Grafting Grafting is the most common method of queen rearing and is used worldwide. Grafting is simply the transfer of larvae that were intended to be workers into queen cell cups. The beeswax foundation in a frame. It might also mean the middle of naturally Midrib build comb.
Reference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckfast_bee http://www.pedigreeapis.org/elver/ori/originen.html http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/grafting.html
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From right to left the requirements range from more restrict to less restrict. That is, the Demeter label has more restrictive conditions to be satisfied than EU label. The organic labels are about how you keep your bees. Generally, the organic labels require you to keep records that allow an inspector to trace the origin and destination of the equipment and products that you purchase and that you sell. If you sell your honey to a store, you will need to provide a copy of your certificate to the store owner. The cost of an inspector's visit is approximately EUR 400 per annum for a 3 hour visit. The Marque National is only about the quality of your honey.
Conversion
889/2008, Article 38 3. Beekeeping products can be sold with references to the organic production method only when the organic production rules have been complied with for at least one year. 4. The conversion period for apiaries does not apply in the case of application of Article 9(5) of this Regulation. 5. During the conversion period the wax shall be replaced with wax coming from organic beekeeping.
Standards Section 8. Conversion A conversion plan is required leading to full certification after, at most, three years. "In conversion to Demeter" status may be granted if 12 months have elapsed since the last application of prohibited substances and if the old wax used in the combs has been excreted or replaced by wax of certified organic origin.
Article 9, 5. For the renovation of apiaries, 10 % per year of the queen bees and swarms may be replaced by non-organic queen bees and swarms in the organic production unit provided that the queen bees and swarms are placed in hives with combs or comb foundations coming from organic production units.
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Placing of bee colonies / On Luxembourgish Apiaries territory
889/2008, Article 13, 1. (...) that, within a radius of 3 km from the apiary site, nectar and pollen sources consist essentially of organically produced crops and/or spontaneous vegetation and/or crops treated with low environmental impact methods.
Standards Section 2. The Siting of Apiaries Biodynamically and organically managed land or uncultivated and wild areas should be selected as preferred sites for setting up beehives. T
889/2008, Article 13, 2. The Member States may designate regions or areas where beekeeping complying with organic production rules is not practicable. 889/2008, Article 78, 1. A map on an appropriate scale listing the location of hives shall be provided to the control authority or control body by the beekeeper. Where no areas are identified in accordance with Article 13(2), the beekeeper shall provide the control authority or control body with appropriate documentation and evidence, including suitable analyses if necessary, that the areas accessible to his colonies meet the conditions required in this Regulation.
Beehive
Queen replacement and uniting colonies
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889/2008, Article 78, 4. The zone where the apiary is situated shall be registered together with the identification of the hives. The control body or authority shall be informed of the moving of apiaries by a deadline agreed on with the control authority or body. 889/2008, Article 13, 3. The hives shall be made basically of Standards Section 3. Beehives natural materials presenting no risk of contamination to the With the exception of fixings, roof coverings and wire meshing, environment or the apiculture products. hives must be built entirely of natural materials such as wood, straw or clay. 3.1 Interior Treatment The inside of the hive may only be treated with beeswax and propolis obtained from Demeter beekeepers. 3.2 Exterior Treatment Only natural, ecologically safe and non-synthetic wood preservatives may be applied to the hive exterior. 3.3 Cleaning and Disinfection The cleaning and disinfection of hives may only be undertaken using heat (flame or hot water) or mechanically Standards Section Methods for increasing Honey Production Multiple and routine uniting of colonies as well as systematic queen replacement is not permitted.
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Queen excluder
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The queen is allowed to move freely throughout the hive. Systematic use of queen excluders not allowed.
Origin of the bees
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889/2008, Article 8, 2. Apis mellifera and their local ecotypes are Standards Section 4.3 Breeds to bepreferred. A locally adapted breed of bee suited to the landscape should be chosen. 889/2008, Article 9, 5. 10 % per year of the queen bees and swarms may be replaced by non-organic queen bees and Standards Section 4.1.1 Buying-in of Colonies and Queens swarms. Any bees or queens purchased must wherever possible stem from Demeter beekeepers. If these are not available they may 889/2008, Article 47, (b). ln major emergencies (high be sourced from organically certified beekeepers. Colonies of mortality) renovation of the apiaries with non-organic I neither Demeter nor organically certified origin must be biological bee colonies when there are insufficient ecological/ integrated without comb. organic bee colonies available
Breeding and Reproduction
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I [No mention is made as to whether artificial breeding of queens is permitted or not.]
Standards Section 4.1 Colony Increase and Selective Breeding Swarming is the natural way to increase the number of bee colonies and is the only permitted means for increasing colony numbers. Pre-empting swarming by creating an artificial swarm with the old queen is allowed. For the further increase the remainder of the hive can be divided into artificial swarms. As with all forms of livestock management some selective breeding is necessary. The production of queen cells is part of the swarming instinct. The replacement of an old queen through the swarming process is permitted for breeding purposes.
Clipping the wings of I queens
889/2008, Article 18, 3 Mutilation such as clipping the wings of Standards Section 4.1.2 Wing Clipping queen bees is prohibited. Clipping the wings of queens is prohibited.
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Wax and comb
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889/2008, Article 38, 5 During the conversion period the wax shall be replaced with wax coming from organic beekeeping. 889/2008, Article 18, 4 The bees wax for new foundations shall come from organic production units. At least one frame must be built by the bees (i.e. without foundation wax).
Combs in the Brood Chamber
See above
Partitioned brood chamber
Standards Section 4.4 The Comb The comb is integral to the beehive. Therefor all combs should be constructed as natural combs. Natural combs are those constructed by the bees without the help of waxed midribs. Natural combs can be constructed on fixed or movable frames. Strips of beeswax foundation to guide comb building is permitted. Standards Section 4.4.1 Combs in the Brood Chamber The brood area naturally enough forms a self-contained unity. Both comb and brood area must be able to grow as the bee colony develops through building more natural comb. The brood chamber and frame size must be so chosen that the brood area can expand organically with the combs and without being obstructed by wood from the frames. Separation barriers are not allowed as integral elements of the management system. Exceptions to this are possible during the conversion period. Standards guidelines must be followed when the first year of conversion begins. The following derogations are allowed during this period: - Partitioned brood chamber [Implicitly, after the first year of conversion a partitioned brood chamber is not permitted. The brood area naturally enough forms a self-contained unity. Does this mean that a separation board to make the box smaller, such as 6 frames, in a brood box for 10 frames is not permitted?]
Combs in the Supers
See above
Standards Section 4.4.2 Combs in the Supers Only in the supers may waxen midribs be used. It is nonetheless desirable to avoid their use here too.
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Food
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889/2008, Article 19, 3 At the end of the production season At least 5kg of honey for a small colony is needed as winter hives shall be left with sufficient reserves of honey and pollen to food. survive the winter. Standards Section 4.5 Feeding 889/2008, Article 19, 3 The feeding of bee colonies shall only be 4.5.1 Over Wintering permitted where the survival of the hives is endangered due to Honey and blossom pollen are the natural foods for bees. The climatic conditions. Feeding shall be with organic honey, organic aim should be to winter them on honey. Where this is not sugar syrups, or organic sugar. possible supplementary winter feed must contain at least 5% honey by weight. This must come from a Demeter certified 889/2008, Article 19, 3 and Article 47, Catastrophic source. Camomile tea and salt should also be added to the feed. circumstances, The competent authority may authorise on a All feed supplements must be of organic if not Biodynamic temporary basis: (d) the feeding of bees with organic honey, origin. organic sugar or organic sugar syrup in case of long lasting exceptional weather conditions or catastrophic circumstances, 4.5.2 Emergency Rations which hamper the nectar or honeydew production; Where feeding is necessary prior to the first honey flow of the season, the same procedure as for winter feeding may be carried out. If emergency feeding is required later in the season and before the last harvest of the year, only Demeter honey should be used. The use of sugar is not allowed in such rations. 4.5.3 Stimulative Feeding No form of stimulative feeding is permitted. 4.5.5 Pollen All pollen substitutes are forbidden
Food for swarms and those remaining in the hive
Standards Section 5.5.4 Feeding of Swarms and Residual Colonies In order to build up the strength of swarming bees and those remaining behind, supplementary feeding may be carried out as in the winter..
Bee health
Standards Section 6. Bee Health A bee colony should be able to correct any occurring imbalances out of its own resources. Measures taken by the Demeter beekeeper should aim to reinforce and maintain its vitality and capacity for selfregeneration. The occasional loss of colonies particularly susceptible to certain pests and diseases should be accepted as a necessary part of natural selection. Where the implementation of pest and disease control measures is unavoidable, only those treatments listed in appendix 2 may be applied. (see below)
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Varroa treatment
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889/2008, Article 25, 3. The practice of destroying the male brood is permitted only to isolate the infestation of Varroa destructor. 889/2008, Article 25, 6 Treatments permitted are: formic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, menthol, thymol and camphor.
Honey production
Honeycombs 889/2008, Article 13, 7 Honeycombs containing brood, may not containing brood may be used for honey extraction not be used for honey extraction. Honey must not be heated.
Veterinary medicines against varroa: onlyorganic acids permitted. Standards Appendix 2 Allowable Treatments and Permitted Substances Brood removal, warmth treatment, artificial swarming, herb teas, formic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, non-transgenic bacillus thuringiensis, sodium carbonate for disinfecting of American Foul Brood organic produced sugar, salt. Standards Appendix 2 Colonies requiring emergency treatment must have their harvest removed before hand. During the extraction, pressing, sieving, purifying and subsequent bottling of the honey, Refer to Standards Section 10. Demeter Hive Product Identification Standards Appendix 2 Products originating from treated colonies cannot be marketed using the trade mark during the same season.
Honey must be stirred, which reduces its tendency to crystalise.
Standards Appendix 3 Transportation, Decanting, Heating. Transportation Containers Using containers of artificial materials for honey is only permitted for the purposes of transportation and special contracts. jars (glass or metal)
Honey Processing
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I 889/2008, Article 31 Packaging and transport of products to other operators or units (c) the name and/or the code number of the control body or authority to which the operator is subject;
Standards Appendix 3 Transportation, Decanting, Heating. Only an indirect warming of the honey can be considered. Heating beyond 35 °C is to be completely avoided. Standards Section 10. Demeter Hive Product Identification The following text must be printed on honey labels: The special quality of Demeter honey derives from a unique, species appropriate approach to bee keeping. Due to their extensive flying range, bees cannot be expected to fly solely over biodynamically managed areas."
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Requirements for measurable quality of the honey
Water content up to 18% maximum.
HMF content (If the water content is measured according more than 20%, there is to Winkler - 8 mg/kg a high risk that the maximum honey will ferment. If the water content is invertase no. around 18%, you have according to Hadorn to consume the honey minimum of 10 within 6 to 9 months.) Honey control
Supervisory body Control of the beekeeping hives
Systematic sampling. Physical analysis and organoleptic testing Honey inspector of honey Commission Random sampling possible at any moment
2001/110/EC, ANNEX II, 2 Water content up to 20% maximum.
Standards Section Appendix 1 Measurable Honey Quality Requirements
2001/110/EC, ANNEX II, 6 (b) HMF content - measured according to Winkler - 40 mg/kg Water content - measured according to DIN/AOAC - 18% maximum and for heather honey 21.4%. maximum invertase number according to Schade minimum of 8
889/2008, Article 65, 2, 4 Random sampling possible at any moment.
Control by Organic Farming Association of Karlsruhe (D).(Kontrollverein Ă–kologischer Landbau aus Karlsruhe) 889/2008, Article 65, 2, 4 Random sampling possible at any moment.
The HMF content - measured according to Winkler - 10 mg/kg maximum . The Invertase level - measured according to Hadorn - must be at least 10 (except honeys with a low content of enzymes like honey from acacia) Honey analysis on residues upon suspicion of excessive exposure to the environment.
Control by Organic Farming Association of Karlsruhe (D), on behalf of Demeter Luxembourg. Random sampling possible at any moment. Annual ins pection visit.
889/2008, Article 65, 1 Annual inspection visit. 889/2008, Article 67 access to all parts of the unit and all premises Conversion period Marketing of bee products in regards to policy on Iabels
I Glasses of 500 gr or 250 gr with official labelling or additional labelling
889/2008, Article 38, 3 At least 1year 889/2008, Article 31, 1 Indication of EC control body.
1-3years Indication of EC control body. In addition, the guidelines for labelling Demeter products have to be respected.
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Bookkeeping
Harvest register
Operating description, register of apiaries, evidence of additional 889/2008, Article 66, Article 67 Operating description, register of apiaries, evidence of additional purchases, financial accounting, marketing etc. purchases, financial accounting, marketing etc. Standards Section 9. Trading with Bought-in Products 889/2008, Article 78, 2. The following information shall be entered in the register of the apiary with regard to the use of feeding: type of product, dates, quantities and hives where it is used. 889/2008, Article 78, 3. Whenever veterinary medicinal products are to be used, the type of product, including the indication of the active pharmacological substance, together with details of the diagnosis, the posology, the method of administration, the duration of the treatment and the legal withdrawal period shall be recorded clearly and declared to the control body or authority before the products are marketed as organically produced. 889/2008, Article 78, 5. Particular care shall be taken to ensure adequate extraction, processing and storage of beekeeping products. All the measures to comply with this requirement shall be recorded. 889/2008, Article 78, 6 The removals of the supers and the honey extraction operations shall be entered in the register of the apiary.
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