News
Protecting bees from pests and disease

May 9, 2013, Ottawa, ON - The federal government has released a national biosecurity standard designed to protect bees from pests and disease.

The standard offers a consistent national approach to biosecurity and is applicable to bee operations of all types and sizes.

Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz said in a news release that protecting bee health is important to safeguarding the bee industry and the Canadian agricultural industries that depend on it.

"The value of the honey and bee products industry is substantial, and many other valuable crops are reliant on pollination by bees," says Ritz, adding approximately $2 billion in agricultural products rely on bees.

The National Farm-Level Bee Biosecurity Standard was developed through a partnership with the honey bee, bumblebee and alfalfa leafcutting bee industries and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). It was developed in collaboration with producers, industry associations, academia, and provincial governments.

May 9, 2013  By Janet Kanters