Apiculture programme: measures to improve the production and marketing of honey

PURPOSE : to lay down measures to improve the conditions for the production and marketing of apiculture products in the EU. PROPOSED ACT : Council Regulation. CONTENT : in June 1997 the Council adopted Regulation 1221/97/EC laying down general rules for the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of honey. The Commission sent the Council and the European Parliament reports on the implementation of Regulation 1221/97/EC in February 2001 and January 2004. The conclusions drawn from these reports show that the measures provided for by Regulation 1221/97/EC should be adapted to the current situation in the Community beekeeping sector. That Regulation should therefore be repealed and replaced by a new one. Beekeeping is a sector of agriculture, the main functions of which are economic activity and rural development, the production of honey and other products of the hive and the maintenance of ecological balance. The sector is characterised by diversity of production conditions and yields, and by the dispersion and variety of producers and traders, both at the production and marketing stage. The aim of this proposal is to improve the conditions for the production and marketing of honey in the European Union. This objective may be achieved by means of three-year national programmes which include measures in the field of technical assistance, control of varroasis, rationalisation of transhumance, restocking hives and applied research in the field of beekeeping and apiculture products. The control of varroasis is not an eradication measure but aims to reduce the economic impact of this disease caused by a parasite on the profitability of production. In order to be eligible for the Community part-financing for the national programmes, the Member States must draw up and forward to the Commission a study on the structure of the sector, the production and marketing of the products and on the measures they plan to carry out. The Member States must also send the Commission statistical data on these programmes. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS : - Budget heading : 05.03.04.07 (former nomenclature B1-2320); - Appropriations (2004 budget) : EUR 16.5 million.�