Apiculture sector policies - positive and negative elements to support healthy market conditions

<ns3:p>Background Honey market health indicators, such as production, consumption, and trade balance, exhibit notable variation across countries. Given that policy objectives typically aim to regulate markets either directly or indirectly, it was found pertinent to examine whether correlations can be established between honey market health metrics and policies perceived as beneficial or detrimental to the apiculture sector. Method An open, international, web-based survey was designed to gather opinions on policies perceived as positively or negatively influencing the health of the honey market, based on the premise that a healthy honey market is fundamental for a thriving apiculture sector. The survey, created using Google Forms, included only one mandatory question, namely the respondents’ country, and allowed participants to list up to three examples each of positive and negative policies. Members of the BeSafeBeeHoney project, COST Action 22105, were encouraged to assist in gathering responses, ideally from beekeepers’ associations within their countries, though all responses were welcome. Results Sixteen survey responses containing 72 policy examples were collected from 13 countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Kosovo, Italy, Serbia, Spain, Slovakia, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom. Of these, one response was gathered via interview. The policy example responses were compiled and organized in a spreadsheet for further grouping and sorting using various criteria. The 13 countries were categorised into three groups based on positive, slightly negative, or negative honey trade balances. Conclusions A quantitative analysis of survey responses did not establish a connection between honey trade balances and national policies. Qualitative analyses reflected a general perception of three decisive policy areas, namely i) subsidisation, ii) product classification and labelling, and iii) regulations governing pesticides and veterinarian medicine. Overall, our research highlights challenges within the sector resulting from irregular market mechanisms, with indications that the predominant market channels operate largely beyond public oversight, contributing to concerns about effective regulation and control.</ns3:p>