Appendix II. Draft Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods (Livestock and Livestock Products: Beekeeping and additivs)

(At Step 8 of the Procedure)

ANNEX 1, B: Livestock and livestock products

Species Specific Requirements

Beekeeping and bee products

General Principles

54. Bee keeping is an important activity that contributes to the enhancement of the environment, agriculture and forestry production through the pollination action of bees.

55. The treatment and management of hives should respect the principles of organic farming.

56. Collection areas must be large enough to provide adequate and sufficient nutrition and access to water.

57. The sources of natural nectar, honeydew and pollen shall consist essentially of organically produced plants and/or spontaneous (wild) vegetation.

58. The health of bees should be based on prevention such as adequate selection of breeds, favourable environment, balanced diet and appropriate husbandry practices.

59. The hives shall consist basically of natural materials presenting no risk of contamination to the environment or the bee products.

60. When bees are placed in wild areas, consideration should be given to the indigenous insect population.

Siting of hives

61. Hives for beekeeping shall be placed in areas where cultivated and/or spontaneous vegetation comply with the rules of production as set out in Section 4 of these Guidelines.

62. The official certification body or authority shall approve the areas which ensure appropriate sources of honeydew, nectar and pollen based on information provided by the operators and/or through the process of inspection.

- The official certification body or authority may designate a specific radius from the hive within which the bees have access to adequate and sufficient nutrition that meets the requirements of these Guidelines.

Feed

64. At the end of the production season hives must be left with reserves of honey and pollen sufficiently abundant for the colony to survive the dormancy period.

65. The feeding of colonies can be undertaken to overcome temporary feed shortages due to climatic or other exceptional circumstances. In such cases, organically produced honey or sugars should be used if available. However the certification body or authority may permit the use of non-organically produced honey or sugars. Time-limits should be set for such derogations. Feeding should be carried out only between the last honey harvest and the start of the next nectar or honeydew flow period.

Conversion Period

66. Bee products can be sold as organically produced when these Guidelines have been complied with for at least one year. During the conversion period the wax must be replaced by organically produced wax. In cases where all the wax cannot be replaced during a one-year period, the certification body or authority may extend the conversion period. By way of derogation:

- when organically produced beeswax is not available, wax from sources not complying with these Guidelines may be authorized by the certification body or authority, provided it comes from the cap or from areas where no prohibited materials have been used.

Origin of bees

68. Bee colonies can be converted to organic production. Introduced bees should come from organic production units when available.

69. In the choice of breeds, account must be taken of the capacity of bees to adapt to local conditions, their vitality and their resistance to disease.

Health of the bees

70. The health of bee colonies should be maintained by good agricultural practice, with emphasis on disease prevention through breed selection and hive management. This includes:

i) the use of hardy breeds that adapt well to the local conditions;
ii) renewal of queen bees if necessary;
iii) regular cleaning and disinfecting of equipment;
iv) regular renewal of beeswax;
v) availability in hives of sufficient pollen and honey;
vi) systematic inspection of hives to detect any anomalies;
vii) systematic control of male broods in the hive;
viii) moving diseased hives to isolated areas, if necessary; or
ix) destruction of contaminated hives and materials.

- lactic, oxalic, acetic acid
- formic acid
- sulphur
- natural etheric oils (e.g. menthol, eucalyptol, camphor)
- Bacillus thuringiensis
- steam and direct flame.

- preference is given to phytotherapeutic and homeopathic treatment, and

- if allopathic chemically synthesised medicinal products are used, the bee products must not be sold as organic. Treated hives must be placed in isolation and undergo a conversion period of one year. All the wax must be replaced with wax which is in accordance with these Guidelines, and

- every veterinary treatment must be clearly documented.

Management

74. The foundation comb shall be made from organically produced wax.

75. The destruction of bees in the combs as a method of harvesting of bee products is prohibited.

76. Mutilations, such as clipping of the wings of queen bees, are prohibited.

77. The use of chemical synthetic repellants is prohibited during honey extraction operations.

78. Smoking should be kept to a minimum. Acceptable smoking materials should be natural or from materials that meet the requirements of these Guidelines.

79. It is recommended that temperatures are maintained as low as possible during the extraction and processing of products derived from beekeeping.

Record Keeping

80. The operator should maintain detailed and up-to-date records as set out in Annex 3, paragraph 7. Maps should be maintained depicting the location of all hives.

Consequential amendments to:

ANNEX 3 at Step 8 (ALINORM 01/22 Appendix II)

MINIMUM INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS AND PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES UNDER THE INSPECTION OR CERTIFICATION SYSTEM at Step 8

5. Each year, before the date indicated by the inspection body, the operator should notify the official or officially recognized inspection/certification body of its schedule of production of crop products and livestock, giving a breakdown by land parcel/herd, flock or hive.

7. All livestock should be identified individually or, in the case of small mammals or poultry, by herd, flock or in the case of bees by hive. Written and/or documentary accounts should be kept to enable tracking of livestock and bee colonies within the system at all times and to provide adequate traceback for audit purpose. The operator should maintain detailed and up-to-date records of:

i) breeding and/or origins of livestock;

ii) registration of any purchases;

iii) the health plan to be used in the prevention and management of disease, injury and reproductive problems;

iv) all treatments and medicines administered for any purpose, including quarantine periods and identification of treated animals or hives;

v) feed provided and the source of the feedstuffs;

vi) stock movements within the unit and hive movements within designated forage areas as identified on maps;

vii) transportation, slaughter and/or sales;

viii) extraction, processing and storing of all bee products.

(At Step 8 of the Procedure)

INGREDIENTS OF NON AGRICULTURAL ORIGIN REFERRED TO IN SECTION 3 OF THESE GUIDELINES

3.1 Food additives, including carriers

INS	Name	Specific conditions
Consequential amendment at commencement of Table, insert following subject heading
For plant products
.... 170	Calcium carbonates	---- .............. etc
Insert the following at the end of the Table For livestock and bee products The following is a provisional list for the purposes of processing livestock and bee products only. Countries may develop a list of substances for national purposes that satisfy the requirements of these Guidelines as recommended in Section 5.2.
153	Wood Ash	Traditional cheeses
170	Calcium carbonates	Milk products. Not as colouring agent.
270	Lactic acid	Sausage casings
290	Carbon dioxide	---
322	Lecithin	Obtained without the use of bleaches or organic solvents. Milk products/milk based infant food/fat products/mayonnaise.
331	Sodium citrate	Sausages/pasteurisation of egg whites/milk products
406	Agar	---
407	Carrageenan	Milk products
410	Locust bean gum	Milk products/meat products
412	Guar gum	Milk products/canned meat/egg products
413	Traganth gum	---
414	Arabic gum	Milk products/fat/confectionery
440	Pectin (unmodified)	Milk products
509	Calcium Chloride	Milk products/meat products
938	Argon	---
941	Nitrogen	---
948	Oxygen	---

TABLE 4: PROCESSING AIDS WHICH MAY BE USED FOR THE PREPARATION OF PRODUCTS OF AGRICULTURAL ORIGIN REFERRED TO IN SECTION 3 OF THESE GUIDELINES

Substance	Specific condition
Consequential amendment at commencement of Table, insert following subject heading For plant products
Insert the following at end of Table 4 For livestock and bee products The following is a provisional list for the purposes of processing livestock and bee products only. Countries may develop a list of substances for national purposes that satisfy the requirements of these Guidelines as recommended in Section 5.2.
Calcium carbonates	---
Calcium Chloride	Firming, coagulation agent in cheese making.
Kaolin	Extraction of propolis.
Lactic acid	Milk products: coagulation agent, pH regulation of salt bath for cheese.
Sodium carbonate	Milk products: neutralizing substance.
Water	---