§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the106W danger to the native honey bee arising from imported honey bees; and if he will make it his policy to ban the importation of honey bees. [58221]
§ Mr. RookerImports of honey bees are currently allowed from other Member States provided they are accompanied by a health certificate. Imports of Queen bees with attendant workers are also permitted from Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, and New Zealand under licence and with a health certificate.
I have no evidence that such legal importation of honey bees poses any threat and therefore have no grounds upon which to base a ban. Our technical advisers at the National Bee Unit are currently undertaking a risk assessment to help us determine whether we should also allow imports of bee packages from New Zealand. No decisions will be taken until we have that assessment.