Government Bee Inspector Passes our Bees with-Flying Colours!

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The Hive Honey Shop had a surprise visit from the FERA (The Food and Environment Research Agency) Government Bee Inspector on Tuesday the 12th. Brian McCallum acting seasonal bee inspector met James at Bee Heaven Farm to thoroughly inspect our hives for any signs of disease. Brian said, ‘ If we we could hand out gold stars you would get one. You have really raised the bar!’

Defra is the UK government department responsible for policy and regulations on the environment, food and rural affairs

Fera is an executive agency of Defra. Fera has statutory responsibilities for delivering policy and inspectorate functions in relation to Plant Health, Bee Health and Plant Varieties and Seeds. They also provide commercial pest and disease diagnostic services.

Extract from Fera Website: www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/beeHealth/index.cfm

Honey bees make an important contribution to sustainable agriculture and the environment. The Government recognises the importance of a strong bee health programme in England to protect these benefits and takes very seriously any biosecurity threat to the sustainability of the apiculture sector.

The Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) is responsible for the Government’s bee health policy in England and in particular, the implementation of the Healthy Bees Plan. Fera’s National Bee Unit (NBU) delivers the bee health program in England and in Wales (on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government).

The aim of the programme is to control the spread of endemic notifiable diseases of honey bees and to identify and manage the risk associated with new exotic pests and diseases that may be introduced. The programme is important in commercial and environmental terms by protecting honey bees needed for pollination of agricultural and horticultural crops, as well as honey production.

The NBU provides an integrated programme of apiary inspections, diagnostics, research and development and training and advice which are provided by a team of bee scientists and experienced practical beekeepers. The NBU also provides specialist advice and technical consultancy services on bee health to other government departments, beekeepers and industry.