OTTAWA, November 4, 2010: The Government of Canada and the Canadian Honey Council (CHC) are seeking input from the bee industry on a new voluntary national biosecurity standard that will help bee keepers minimize the risk of pests and diseases in their colonies.
“Bees are a major contributor to the health and vitality of agriculture,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “This Government is pleased to support the creation of standards that will contribute to the stability of such an important industry in the agricultural community.”
Bumble bee, leafcutter and honey bee keepers will be contacted at random and asked what they do at the farm level to keep their colonies healthy. This input will assist in creating new voluntary biosecurity standards.
“The CHC is pleased to participate in this benchmarking exercise for on-farm biosecurity,” said Heather Clay, Chief Executive Officer, CHC. “This standard is important to help control the spread of bee pests and diseases.”
The standard, which is expected to be released in 2012, will benefit all managed bees in Canada. This standard will be developed in partnership between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, provincial departments of agriculture, the bee industry and academia.
Biosecurity refers to activities that can be done to minimize the risk of introducing and spreading disease and pests. For more information on biosecurity, please visit www.inspection.gc.ca/biosecurity.
For more information on the bee biosecurity standard project, or to provide feedback, please contact the CHC.
For more information
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media Relations
613-773-6600
Heather Clay
Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Honey Council
1-403-208-7141