It is indeed what's laughingly called "a free country" - I think my objections to this scheme are set out fairly succinctly below (for some odd reason, the Saga website is "not accepting" submitted comments on this matter (after I'd spent some time carefully drafting it!)
"As a "natural beekeeper" I'm more than a touch sceptical about this scheme. The BBKA are now very much a "minority" organisation (only around 1 in 3 beekeepers are members), due I think in no small part to their choosing to accept funding from Bayer and Syngenta (who make chemicals banned in many parts of the world for the damage they do to bees)
My suggestion for anyone with a genuine concern for the fate of bees is to plant "bee friendly" plants, buy genuine English honey from small local producers, use no synthetic pesticides (garden organically), and perhaps even look towards keeping bees yourself - (I'm retired, and it is neither difficult nor expensive). Just Google "natural beekeeping" and follow your nose.......
My suspicion is that this scheme is an attempt to regain funding and influence by a minority organisation, who's "research" up to now has pointedly avoided giving credence to the fact that "chemicals" may well be at the root of most bee problems.....
I'm passionate about my bees, and want to see them survive into the future - if anything this scheme will probably do more harm than good.........."