Section 7:
Standards for organic bee keeping
Organic bee keeping shall comply with the following production practices:
(1) In the choice of breeds, account must be taken of the capacity of animals to adapt to local conditions, their vitality and their resistance to disease. Preference shall be given to the use of European breeds of Apis Mellifera and their local ecotypes, such as Apis Mellifera Scutellata in summer rainfall regions of South Africa and Apis Mellifera Capensis in the winter rainfall areas.
(2) Hives shall be situated in organically managed fields and shall be collected as prescribed in Section 5(5).
(3) At the end of the production season, hives must be left with reserves of honey and pollen sufficiently abundant to survive the dormancy period.
(4) Artificial feeding may only take place --
(a) only between the last honey harvest and 15 days before the start of the next nectar or honeydew flow period; and
(b) where the survival of the hives is endangered due to extreme climatic conditions; such feeding shall be of organically produced honey, preferably from the same organic production unit.
(b) if the climatic conditions provoke crystallisation of honey, however, the use of certified organic sugar syrup, (or organic sugar molasses for a limited period) may be authorised by the certifier for artificial feeding in place of organically produced honey;
(d) provided the following information is recorded with regard to the feeding: Type of product, dates, quantities and hives where used.
(5) The foundation comb shall be made of organic wax.
(6) The bee hive shall primarily consist of natural materials, and the use of materials with potentially toxic effects is prohibited.
(7) Mutilation such as wing clipping is not allowed.
(8) Artificial insemination is not allowed.
(9) Destruction of bees in the combs as a harvesting method is prohibited.
(10) When working with bees no repellent consisting of prohibited substances, such as synthetic repellents, shall be used.
(11) Replacement of the queen bees involving the killing of the old queen is permitted.
(12) Simultaneous conventional and organic production are allowed: Provided that the hives are clearly identified and conventional and organic hives are sited at least 6 km from each other.
(13) The positioning of the hives during production must --
(a) ensure sufficient natural nectar, honeydew and pollen sources and access to water;
(b) be such that, within a radius of at least 3 km from the hive, nectar and pollen sources consist essentially of organic crops; and
(c) maintain enough distance from any non-agricultural sources that can possibly lead to contamination.
(14) Bee colonies may be converted to organic production –
(a) New hives must be established by means of the division of colonies or the acquisition of swarms from units complying with the provision of these standards.
(b) Except that 10% per year of queen bees and swarms not complying with the provisions of these standards can be incorporated into organic production, provided that the queen bees and swarms are placed in hives with combs or comb foundations coming from organic units, in which case a conversion period does not apply.
(c) The reconstitution of apiaries when necessitated by cases of high mortality of bees caused by health or catastrophic circumstances shall be authorised by Afrisco when apiaries complying with these standards are not available and these will be subject to the conversion period.
(d) Beekeeping products can be sold as organic only when the provisions of these standards have been met for at least one year.
(e) During the conversion period, wax shall be replaced by organically produced wax.
(f) Where no prohibited products have been previously used in the hive and there is no risk of contamination of wax, replacement wax is not necessary.
(g) In cases where all of the wax cannot be replaced during a one-year period, the conversion period may be extended with Ecocert-Afrisco’s approval.
(15) Disease prevention shall be based on the following:
(a) The selection of appropriate breeds.
(b) The application of practices encouraging resistance to disease and the prevention of infections, such as regular renewal of queen bees, systematic inspection of hives to detect any health anomalies, control of male broods in the hives, disinfecting of materials and equipment at regular intervals, destruction of contaminated material or sources, regular renewal of beeswax and sufficient reserve of pollen and honey in hives.
(16) If, despite all possible preventive measures, the colonies become sick or infested, they must be treated immediately and, if necessary, they can be placed in isolation apiaries.
(17) The use of veterinary medicinal products shall comply with the following:
(a) Phytotherapeutic and homeopathic products shall be used in preference to chemically-synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products.
(b) If the products in (a) are not, or is unlikely to be, effective in combating illness or injury, chemically-synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics may be used under the responsibility of a veterinarian.
(c) The use of chemically-synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics for preventive treatment is prohibited.
(d) For pest and disease control and for hive disinfection the following substances may be allowed: Provided that the operator regularly evaluates the substances used on the operation against the criteria in Annexure I to re-confirm the organic status thereof or to identify possible alternatives that are of better organic status:
(i) Caustic soda.
(ii) Lactic, oxalic, acetic acid.
(iii) Formic acid.
(iv) Sulphur.
(v) Menthol, thymol, eucalyptol or camphor.
(vi) Bacillus thuringiensis.
(vii) Physical treatments such as steam or direct flame.
(viii) Products listed in Annexure III.
(e) When veterinary medicinal products are used, records must be kept, including the details of the products used, and the diagnosis, the posology, method of administration, duration of treatment and legal withdrawal period. This must be declared to the certifier before the bee products are marketed as organically produced.
(f) When chemically-synthesised allopathic products are used for treatment, then --
(i) the hives must be placed in isolation;
(ii) the wax must be replaced; and
(iii) the conversion period of one year will apply.
(g) Any veterinary treatment or treatments to hives, combs, etc., which are compulsory under national legislation shall be authorised.
(18) Hives must be identified and records must be kept of where the hives are kept, their movement or removal of supers and extraction. If hives are moved, the certifier must be informed within a period laid down by the certifier and agreed by the operator.
(19) The use of smoke should be kept to a minimum. Acceptable smoking materials should be natural or from materials that meet the requirements of these standards.
(20) Particular care shall be taken to ensure adequate extraction, processing and storage of beekeeping products. All measures to comply with these requirements shall be recorded.