It’s important that the 12-month research contract that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) entered into with the University of Galway in October of last year (2023) is concluded before deciding whether to introduce legislation banning the importation of non-native honey bees into Ireland.
That was the response to a parliamentary question from Deputy Peter Burke to Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue recently.
Deputy Burke asked the minister about the measures he is taking to restrict the importation of non-native sub-species, hybrid honeybees and queens into the state.
He also enquired about the strategies being devised to protect the Irish honey business and keep the native species free from disease.
The objective of the research is to provide an independent scientific assessment to investigate the threat to and adverse impact on biodiversity and the ecosystem arising from the introgression/crossing/cross-breeding of the native Irish honey bee, Apis mellifera mellifera with non-native species or sub-species.
Minister McConalogue said that the movement of bees within the union is governed by Regulation (EU) 2016/429 (the Animal Health Law) which is supplemented by commission implementing and delegated regulations.
“These EU regulations contain specific provisions to safeguard the health of bees located in the territory of the union. The importation of honeybees into Ireland is allowed under these regulations and a statutory ban on non-native bee imports into Ireland may constitute a restriction on trade
“Import data from the past three years shows a decline in the number of honey bees imported into Ireland from 1285 in 2021 to 388 in 2023,” the minister said.
The department, the minister said, provides a range of supports and initiatives to encourage and assist beekeepers and the national beekeeping associations.
These supports include funding to carry out applied research through the national apiculture programme, grants to national beekeeping associations and grant aid to fund capital investments for beekeepers.
Support
“My department provides a bee health service, free of charge, which facilitates the early detection of pests and pathogens which is key to maintaining healthy stock of bees in Ireland. The department also operates the sentinel apiary programme along with volunteer beekeepers throughout Ireland.
“The aim of the programme is to ensure the early detection of three exotic pests, small hive beetle (SHB), Tropilaelaps spp. and the Asian Hornet,” he said.
Colette O’Connell, PRO and director of the Irish Beekeepers’ Association (IBA) CLG, said that while Ireland awaits completion of research on the effect of imports of foreign strains of bees on its indigenous native honey bee, Apis mellifera melifera, effects which beekeepers on the ground already know and see in their bee colonies, damage continues: the loss of the unique genetics of the indigenous native honey bee.
It should be noted, she said, that honey bees mate on the wing and beekeepers have no control over which bees their queens will mate with.
“Other European countries have lost their indigenous colonies of Apis m. mellifera, which was the indigenous bee of all of north-western Europe, evolved and adapted over the millennia.
“The indigenous colonies were lost due to the inward movement of other strains of honey bees, such as Italian, Carniolan, Buckfast, by beekeepers to their habitats,” the PRO said.
Ireland’s native bees
She continued: “Ireland is at risk of losing its cohort of indigenous native bees with the continued dilution of the genetics of this honey bee. This is due to the import of foreign strains of honey bees and honey bee queens.
“This dilution continues while the DAFM awaits the completion of research. By the time such research is done, we may have lost the last remaining cohort of this indigenous native honey bee. It may very well be too late,” she contended.
“Ireland needs to rely on the precautionary principle and introduce a temporary ban on imports until the research is completed. This has been done under EU law in other EU countries, to protect indigenous species and local biodiversity.
“Beekeepers are concerned about the risk of disease and foreign alien pests being introduced to Ireland with imported bees.
“Members throughout the country are working hand-in-hand with the beekeeping supports provided by the DAFM,” she said.
“However, more supports are required as the Irish apiculture sector is supported under horticulture, within the DAFM. Beekeepers believe that an independent beekeeping sector, within the department, with more resources and bee inspectors to support beekeepers and the honey industry is needed.”
IBA
Beekeepers and the IBA CLG have been supportive of the government’s Sentinel hive programme, with traps and bait provided by DAFM, given to beekeepers around the country.
The IBA has linked with experts from abroad to learn how best to use these traps and help prevent the establishment of this apex predator and other pests here.
A nationwide voluntary network has also been established under the auspices of the IBA CLG to further alert beekeepers on best practice.
More information is available from the Irish Beekeepers’ Association CLG.