CFIA rejects beekeeper proposals on U.S. packaged bees

The Canadian Meals Inspection Company (CFIA) has rejected a sequence of proposals that the bee business hoped might reopen the door to bringing in packaged bees from the U.S.

In late 2024, the company opened the door to potential danger mitigation ideas, following a push from some corners of the beekeeping sector. Whereas nonetheless contentious amongst honey producers, a number of beekeeping organizations had been pushing for the CFIA to once more permit packaged bee imports from the U.S., citing vital winter losses, difficultly in sourcing substitute inventory and new information gained because the final official full danger evaluation again in 2013.

U.S. packaged bees haven’t been allowed into Canada because the ’80s on account of points equivalent to resistant American foulbrood, small hive beetle, varroa mites and Africanized genetics.

The CFIA’s session ended Jan. 31, 2025.

In a current abstract doc, the CFIA mentioned that, after analyzing the submitted danger mitigation proposals, the measures can be inadequate.

“The CFIA doesn’t have an obligation of care to guard the financial pursuits of stakeholders,” the doc learn. “The CFIA’s regulatory mandate below the Well being of Animals Act and rules is to assist defend Canadian animal well being, which incorporates the well being of the Canadian honey bee inhabitants.”

Submissions included a recommended restricted regional commerce technique, an analysis of the affect on inter-provincial motion, a pilot mission to import from Northern California, danger mitigation for all recognized hazards, transport inspections upon coming into Canada, utilizing present import circumstances of queens for the importation of packages and the utilization finest administration practices post-importation.

The CFIA’s complete import danger evaluation “clearly demonstrated scientifically” the dangers the proposals introduced, learn the agency response, which is out there on the CFIA web site.

In a number of instances, the CFIA famous, proposals needed to do with additional analysis fairly than energetic danger mitigation measures. Others, the company dismissed as missing in sturdy scientific backing or mentioned they didn’t correctly tackle the danger in query.

Glacier FarmMedia might be following up on this story in following weeks.

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