The economic sustainability of many beekeeping operations around the world is currently being challenged by decreasing hive yields due to deterioration of the environment, increasing costs of production, and insufficient prices of authentic bee products mainly caused by different modes of honey fraud. As long as economically motivated adulteration, customs fraud and the violation of international and national trade laws persist, the wellbeing and stability of world beekeepers, food security and ecological sustainability remain in jeopardy. While maximizing the efforts in combating honey fraud, the world beekeeping community also urgently needs to return to a positive and proactive agenda in order to help protect the prestige of this ancient food, so related to nature and human health.
Apimondia promotes the development of authentic beehive products and all kinds of fair commercial activities linked to bees. The economy related matters we cover are: management (apiaries, industry), products (quality, commercialization), markets (domestic, international trading), sales promotion, new products and businesses, environment (food security, economic sustainability), history, education, sector organizations (for the strengthening of beekeeping economy), and communication.
Within the Commission, the work is further structured through two dedicated subcommissions, which focus on specific thematic areas and support the effective implementation of these activities.
The purpose of this sub-commission is to provide scientific guidance regarding authenticity testing of honey from a laboratory perspective. It gathers a selected group of international experts, who bring together analytical expertise regarding honey testing from various perspectives and positions along the honey supply chain.
Based on its expertise, the sub-commission is in charge of reviewing the state-of-the-art of economically motivated adulteration testing of honey, and performing risk assessments regarding new factors in the honey supply chain that may impact authenticity testing.
The sub-commission will always consider new developments, help update the APIMONDIA Statements when necessary, and also publish scientific opinions on honey authenticity testing.
To the extent necessary, the sub-commission may also consider non-laboratory actions in its work, e.g., honey traceability and auditing. In addition to its scientific members, the committee may also invite observers from other APIMONDIA commissions or sub-commissions as guests to ensure exchange of knowledge and opinions.
The leader of the group is annually elected by its members.
This Apimondia Sub-Commission represents the interests of professional beekeepers.
Professional beekeepers are those whose income relies mostly on honeybees.
The activities of the Sub-Commission cross-cuts with almost all Apimondia Scientific and Regional Commissions and has a permanent crossover communication with the Honey Authenticity Analytical Expert Sub-Commission, as economically motivated adulteration directly impacts on honey prices and jeopardizes the sustainability of most commercial operations.
The strategic objectives of the Sub-commission are:
Norberto Luis Garcia
Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca. ARGENTINA.
Prof. Dr. Stephan Schwarzinger
Geschäftsführer Nordbayerisches NMR Zentrum
Manager Northern Bavarian NMR Centre (NBNC)
NBNC – Research Group „CSI – Food Bayreuth“
Universität Bayreuth, Universitaetsstrasse 30 (NW I), 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
Rod Scarlett
Executive Director Canadian Honey Council
Sherwood Park, AB T8E 1H1 – CANADA
