new honey regs

[yeogi75]

just read mailonline eu to change honey labeling regs and test for safty over pollen ?

 

[RoofTops]

From what I understand it really only applies to imported honey.

 

[MuswellMetro]

From what I understand it really only applies to imported honey.

so that's why the Chinese filter all the pollen out and not because you cannot trace it origin LOL

 

[yeogi75]

been back to reread,uk is included in label regs, and test will follow to prove no gm pollen in the honey, they are going to give answer next year
labels to show contains pollen, still they may change there minds rowse asda and some more have called in home brands honey because contamination

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

This is assuming the EU is still in existence next year!

 

[MuswellMetro]

This is assuming the EU is still in existence next year!

.....I wish, I wish

 

[VEG]

I asked the local trading standards when they came to visit and the chap said not to worry about it lol.

 

[RoofTops]

so that's why the Chinese filter all the pollen out and not because you cannot trace it origin LOL

Science is cleverer than that. Even when they tried filtering out the pollen and replacing it with pollen from the "correct" plant the white coats could work out what they had done. This is because pollen secrete chemicals which are unique to the specific plant. It is how the plant knows when a bit of pollen arrives if it is one from its own species.

 

[DanBee]

I asked the local trading standards when they came to visit and the chap said not to worry about it lol.

Correct. I have been attending the meetings on behalf of the Bee Farmers Association, and the current position from the FSA is that they have no plans yet to implement any changes to honey labelling requirements.

The honey regulations have not changed, hence there has been no cascade of new practice to the UK or any other member states; there was a recent ECJ (European Court of Justice) ruling that concluded that pollen was "an ingredient of honey introduced principally by the actions of the beekeeper", and it is this that has implications for labelling and for testing. To say that the ECJ conclusion was misguided and ill-advised is an understatement. It flies in the face not only of common sense, but also of the existing EU (and, by derivation, UK) honey regulations which state that pollen is a constituent of honey.

 

[itma]

just read mailonline eu to change honey labeling regs and test for safty over pollen ?

NO.

10 page thread here from November -> http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=14557

The Daily Mail has rather set prejudices on 'Europe', and seemed not to have bothered to carefully read the ECJ judgement or the official court report (I linked both from that thread).

The European Court of Justice referred back to the Bavarian court the specific decision (to be based on scientific investigation) whether or not the pollen in honey was, or was not, capable of genetic transfer.
If it is capable of genetic transfer, THEN one would require specific authorisation to sell honey containing GM pollen. (And then the further distant possibility opens up that someone might then choose to test your honey to see whether you happened to have any GM pollen in your honey.) But this scenario has nothing to do with labelling - its about product authorisation. And compulsory testing is just a figment of the Mail's frenzied imagination.
If it is not capable of genetic transfer, then any legal problem over GM pollen in honey simply disappears.
But that critical question of genetic transfer is to be decided by the German Courts, not the ECJ. That is a question of scientifically factual evidence, not interpretation of European law, so its not a matter for the ECJ to decide.


The pollen-as-an-ingredient labelling question is different. There is now a theoretical possibility that someone might potentially challenge the UK's Honey Labelling Regs 2003 as not being compatible with EU law (by not requiring 'contains pollen' to be mentioned). But AFAIK, no one has issued a challenge or asked for a change.
Personally, I actually doubt that there is any problem. Orange Juice contains Vitamin C - but it only needs to be declared as an ingredient, if extra vitamin is added to what comes out of the orange before being packed for sale.
So I think no label regs change is in prospect.


Really, the whole thing is just another Daily Mail (and Telegraph) euro-scare story.
And its been done to death on here six weeks ago.
Have a happy Christmas.
Don't worry about this.

 

[yeogi75]

NO.

10 page thread here from November -> http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=14557

The Daily Mail has rather set prejudices on 'Europe', and seemed not to have bothered to carefully read the ECJ judgement or the official court report (I linked both from that thread).

The European Court of Justice referred back to the Bavarian court the specific decision (to be based on scientific investigation) whether or not the pollen in honey was, or was not, capable of genetic transfer.
If it is capable of genetic transfer, THEN one would require specific authorisation to sell honey containing GM pollen. (And then the further distant possibility opens up that someone might then choose to test your honey to see whether you happened to have any GM pollen in your honey.) But this scenario has nothing to do with labelling - its about product authorisation. And compulsory testing is just a figment of the Mail's frenzied imagination.
If it is not capable of genetic transfer, then any legal problem over GM pollen in honey simply disappears.
But that critical question of genetic transfer is to be decided by the German Courts, not the ECJ. That is a question of scientifically factual evidence, not interpretation of European law, so its not a matter for the ECJ to decide.


The pollen-as-an-ingredient labelling question is different. There is now a theoretical possibility that someone might potentially challenge the UK's Honey Labelling Regs 2003 as not being compatible with EU law (by not requiring 'contains pollen' to be mentioned). But AFAIK, no one has issued a challenge or asked for a change.
Personally, I actually doubt that there is any problem. Orange Juice contains Vitamin C - but it only needs to be declared as an ingredient, if extra vitamin is added to what comes out of the orange before being packed for sale.
So I think no label regs change is in prospect.


Really, the whole thing is just another Daily Mail (and Telegraph) euro-scare story.
And its been done to death on here six weeks ago.
Have a happy Christmas.
Don't worry about this.

not worried will do what i want no matter what the regulations have no bees yet. just read it today a lot of writing there gone over my head

 

[yeogi75]

any way whats all this about genetically altered crops, haven't we all ready got them, or have they been kept in hermetically sealed vacuumed glass houses, we cannot hold back processes that will benefit the world, do birds not Carry seeds from one field to the next, move with the times it will happen and does happen without anyones permission

 

[Onge]

This is assuming the EU is still in existence next year!

LOL nice one.

 

[Skyhook]

[The pollen-as-an-ingredient labelling question is different. There is now a theoretical possibility that someone might potentially challenge the UK's Honey Labelling Regs 2003 as not being compatible with EU law (by not requiring 'contains pollen' to be mentioned). But AFAIK, no one has issued a challenge or asked for a change.

Really, the whole thing is just another Daily Mail (and Telegraph) euro-scare story.

Don't worry about this.

Would that this were the case. Unfortunately our ever-eager civil servants have a habit of climbing over each other to comply more than anyone else with EU regs- which is why so many of the 'EU scare stories' seem to cause more harm here than in other countries. Abbatoirs was a good example.

I agree with your other point though. If you're after facts, you may as well look at your tea leaves as the Daily Mail.

.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

to both parts

 

[yeogi75]

This is assuming the EU is still in existence next year!

if only

 

[yeogi75]

would pollen stripping at hive entrance cure the problem

 

[MartinL]

If it's anything like Last years new space requirements for poultry then;

The UK will fall in line and incur the vast additional expense.

Europeans won't bother and will be allowed to get away with the infringement, Scott free!

 

[Hombre]

More EU Regs on the way

New bee space regs due to come into force on 01 April 2012. The Politicians have found that bees are cramped and that this is violating their civil liberties. Therefore bee space is to be increased to comply and become 14mm to 20mm from that date.

This is seen to be good as it will stimulate growth in the bee equipment area producing Hoffman shoulder pads, frame spacers and micro ekes, which are likely to be in great demand and could outstrip supply by the early summer.

So for extracting next summer you might also be needing a bit more space in the ol extractor whizzy thingys.

I believe that T*****s and M******e are gearing up already for the changeover date

What a legacy from the EU . . .

 

[yeogi75]

New bee space regs due to come into force on 01 April 2012. The Politicians have found that bees are cramped and that this is violating their civil liberties. Therefore bee space is to be increased to comply and become 14mm to 20mm from that date.

This is seen to be good as it will stimulate growth in the bee equipment area producing Hoffman shoulder pads, frame spacers and micro ekes, which are likely to be in great demand and could outstrip supply by the early summer.

So for extracting next summer you might also be needing a bit more space in the ol extractor whizzy thingys.

I believe that T*****s and M******e are gearing up already for the changeover date

What a legacy from the EU . . .

and heating in the winter and fans for the summer