NOSB Apiculture Task Force Report 

Draft Organic Apiculture Standards 

Compiled by James A. Riddle, ATF Chair 

September 15, 2001

I. Introduction:

The NOSB Apiculture Task Force was charged with development of organic apiculture standards. 

In the opinion of the Task Force, organic producers may introduce and manage bees on their 

operations for production benefits, such as the pollination of organic crops. If managed as a 

livestock species that yields organic apiculture products such as honey, pollen, propolis, royal 

jelly, beeswax, and bee venom, beekeepers must manage bees in compliance with organic 

standards. 

The draft organic apiculture standard establishes allowed and prohibited production practices for 

organic apiculture operations based on the requirements of the Organic Foods Production Act 

(OFPA). It is consistent with the National Organic Program Final Rule, published December 21, 

2000, and cross-references applicable sections of the rule. 

The OFPA livestock certification requirements include provisions for the origin of livestock, the 

feed ration, living conditions, health care management practices, and the record keeping 

arrangements necessary for identification and audit trail purposes. All livestock certification 

requirements of OFPA are addressed in the draft organic apiculture standard.

II. Organic Apiculture Standard:

§ 205.2 Definitions.

Apiculture. The management and production of honey bees and queens and their products 

including but not limited to honey, beeswax, pollen, royal jelly, propolis, and bee venom. 

Forage zone. Land surrounding bee colonies which provides bees with water, nectar, honeydew, 

pollen, and propolis.

§ 205.240 Apiculture practice standard.

(a) Products from an apiculture operation that are to be sold, labeled, or represented as organic 

must be from hives which have been under continuous organic management for no less than 270 

days prior to the removal of the products from the hive. If a prohibited material has been used in 

or on the hive prior to the 270 day transition, the producer must replace the hive’s foundation with 

foundation made from organic wax and remove those products to be sold as organic, prior to the 

start of the transition period.

(b) A producer of organic apiculture products must develop an organic apiculture plan in 

accordance with the provisions in § 205.201. In addition, the organic apiculture plan must:

(1) Contain a map of the forage zone which shows the location of the hives, the location of 

organic and wild land, and the location of all non-organic areas;

(2) Describe the quantity of organic and/or wild forage to be provided per colony, including the 

type or types of forage, approximate bloom period, forage density, competing species density, 

honeybee colony density, colony health, colony strength, topography, and climatic conditions;
(3) Describe the water sources available in the forage zone; 

(4) List all sanitary landfills, incinerators, sewage treatment facilities, power plants, golf courses, 

towns or cities, land to which prohibited materials are applied, and all other sources of potential 

contamination located in the forage zone; and

(5) For split operations, list and describe the management practices used to prevent commingling 

and contamination, including measures to prevent commingling resulting from bee drift and 

robbing.

(c) A producer of organic apiculture products must maintain records in accordance with § 205.103 

and § 205.236(c). 

(d) The producer must maintain hives on land that is managed in accordance with the provisions 

in § 205.202 through 205.206 or § 205.207. 

(e) The producer must provide bees with forage that is managed in accordance with the 

provisions in § 205.202 through 205.206 or § 205.207. 

(f) The producer of an organic apiculture operation may:

(1) Allow bees from their operation to forage on non-organically managed land when adequate 

forage from organically managed land and/or land that is managed in 

accordance with § 205.207, as defined by the operation’s organic apiculture plan, has been 

provided; and 

(2) Provide supplemental feed from organic honey, organic sugar syrup, and/or pollen substitutes 

and supplements that are allowed under 205.603, Except, That, the producer must not provide 

organic sugar syrup less than 30 days prior to the harvest of honey to be 

sold, labeled, or represented as organic.

(g) The producer of an organic apiculture operation must not:

(1) Maintain colonies in an area where land to which prohibited materials, as listed in § 205.105, 

are applied, or where another source of contamination is located less than 4 miles (6.4 

kilometers) from the apiary, as described in the operation's organic apiculture plan.

(h) Approved hive construction materials.

(1) Hives must be made of natural materials, including wood and metal.

(2) Outside hive surfaces may be painted with non-lead based paints.

(3) Plastic foundation may be used if dipped in organic beeswax and mounted in a wooden frame.

(i) The producer must establish and maintain preventive health care practices, including: 

(1) Selection of bee stocks, hive densities, and colony locations appropriate to site-specific 

conditions and resistant to prevalent diseases and pests; 

(2) Introduction of replacement bees which are from organic sources or from non-organic 

sources, Provided, That the replacement bees are managed organically for at least 60 days prior 
to the removal of organic apiculture products from the hive; 

(3) Maintenance of adequate supplies of honey and pollen in the hive, including leaving hives with 

reserves of honey and pollen sufficient for the colony to survive the dormancy period; 

(4) Use of foundation wax not contaminated with diseases or pests;

(5) Destruction of equipment and bees contaminated with disease or pests;

(6) Use of management methods or modified equipment to control pests and diseases; 

(7) Use of therapeutic applications of non-synthetic materials to control pests, parasites, and 

diseases, Provided, That such materials are not prohibited under § 205.604; and 

(8) Use of therapeutic applications of synthetic materials, Provided, That such materials are 

allowed under § 205.603.

(j) The producer must not: 

(1) Accept the presence of pests, parasites, or disease without initiating efforts to restore the 

health of the colony; 

(2) Use synthetic materials not listed as allowed under § 205.603; 

(3) Use non-synthetic materials prohibited under § 205.604; 

(4) Use lumber treated with synthetic materials not listed as allowed under § 205.603 or nonsynthetic materials prohibited under § 205.604 for hive construction materials; 

(5) Use synthetic materials or non-synthetic materials prohibited under § 205.604 in bee smokers;

(6) Annually destroy bee colonies following honey flows; 

(7) Rotate hives between organic and non-organic management; or 

(8) Sell apiculture products as organic if they contain a residue of a prohibited material greater 

than 5 percent of the Environmental Protection Agency’s tolerance for the specific material, 

pursuant to § 205.671.

III. Amendments to the National List:

The NOSB Apiculture Task Force gathered information on materials currently used by apiculture 

operations and materials currently allowed by certifying agents. The Task Force proposes that the 

following materials be reviewed for possible inclusion on the National List, § 205.603. 

The Task Force is not endorsing any of the materials listed below, and is not recommending the 

approval of any particular material listed. We recommend that the materials listed be reviewed on 

a high priority basis, due to the fact that many of the materials are currently being used by organic 

apiculture operations. Without a clear list of allowed apiculture materials, it will be impossible for 

the apiculture standard to be implemented. 

The Task Force recommends that new subsections be created in § 205.603 and § 205.604 to 

specifically list synthetic substances allowed for use by organic apiculture operations and nonsynthetic substances prohibited for use. 
The current materials review process requires that a petition be submitted for each material being 

requested for review. The Task Force recommends that the NOSB submit the materials listed 

below for review, and direct the NOP to prioritize their review. The Task Force points out that a 

similar "blanket" list process was used when crop and handling standards were first developed. 

The Task Force further points out that this situation will occur when standards are written for any 

new sector of the organic industry. Procedures to address the review of materials for new sectors 

should be developed by the NOSB Materials Committee. 

In the table below, the name of the material appears in the first column. The S/N code in the 

second column stands for synthetic/natural. The third column contains information and notes on 

how and why the material is used. The information in this column may be helpful to construct 

annotations on use of the material. 

Acetic acid S For apicultural use to disinfect empty combs which have been 

exposed to European foulbrood, Nosema, or the protozoan-caused 

Amoeba Disease.

Carbon dioxide S For apicultural use to control wax moth.

Essential oils N For apicultural use to control tracheal mites including: menthol, 

cinnamon, eucalyptus, spearmint, wintergreen, thyme, and camphor. 

These materials may be used after the last honey harvest of the 

season and must be discontinued 30 days before the addition of 

honey supers.

Folic acid S For apicultural use to control Varroa mites. This material may be 

used after the last honey harvest of the season and must be 

discontinued 30 days before the addition of honey supers.

Formic acid S For apicultural use to control Varroa mites.

Lactic acid N 

S

For apicultural use to control Varroa mites. This material may be 

used after the last honey harvest of the season and must be 

discontinued 30 days before the addition of honey supers.

Oxytetracyline 

(Terramycin)

S For apicultural use. Only for treatment of American foulbrood (AFB) in 

apiaries in which the disease has been diagnosed; beekeepers may 

not make routine, prophylactic applications of oxytetracyline in 

apiaries in which there has been no confirmation of the presence of 

AFB.

(Note: Included for discussion purposes because oxytetracycline calcium complex is on the 

National List for crop production. Although terramycin is commonly used to control bee 

diseases, no antibiotics are allowed for other types of organic livestock. If allowed, an 

extended withdrawal period or re-transition of the hive should be considered prior to 

collection of organic apiculture products.)

Vegetable 

shortening

N For apicultural use to control tracheal mites. This material may be 

used after the last honey harvest of the season and must be 

discontinued 30 days before the addition of honey supers.

(Note: Some certifiers have allowed vegetable shortening mixed with sugar to form a patty. It 

is included here for review, but may not need to appear on the list, since it is a natural 

material, and may be used by definition. Since it ends up being eaten by the bees, it is 

assumed that the shortening would have to be from organic sources. If the shortening is 

used as an excipient, the Task Force is unclear as to whether the shortening must be 

organic or if it must appear on the list.)
IV. Handling Standards for Organic Apiculture Products: 

The Task Force had extensive discussion on the topic of apiculture handling standards without 

reaching a resolution. Recognizing the complexity this topic, and our desire to move the 

standards forward, we recommend that, for the present time, the standards deal only with 

production of apiculture products. 

The Task Force recommends that the NOSB Processing Committee address the issue of organic 

"raw" honey vs. organic processed honey as the Committee develops standards and/or criteria 

for allowed processing technologies. 

Attached as Addendum I are "Definitions of Honey and Honey Products" approved by the 

National Honey Board June 15, 1996. The Task Force refers the list of definitions to the 

Processing Committee. 

The Task Force recommends that the draft language contained below be referred to the 

Processing Committee for further consideration. Most of the requirements below are already 

covered by the handling section of the rule, and were deemed by the Task Force to be redundant. 

The Task Force recommends that the Processing Committee use the language below to develop 

a recommendation for standards which are unique to the handling of organic apiculture products. 

§ 205.273 Handling organic apiculture products. 

(a) A handler of organic apiculture products must develop an organic handling plan in accordance 

with the provisions in § 205.201. 

(b) A handler of organic apiculture products must maintain records in accordance with § 205.103. 

(c) An operation which handles organic apiculture products must implement Good Manufacturing 

Practices and be in compliance with all handling requirements of § 205.270 through § 205.272.

(d) Primary handlers of organic apiculture products must not:

(1) Add water to honey to decrease the honey’s viscosity; 

(2) Use fine mesh filters or diatomaceous earth to separate seed crystals from honey;

(3) Use high pressure honey filtration; 

(4) Heat or handle organic apiculture products using kerosene heaters or any heating system 

which introduces petroleum fumes into the room; or

(5) Control stray bees or other insects using synthetic insecticides, repellants, or fumigants, 

unless such materials are allowed under § 205.605.

V. Acknowledgements:

Members of the NOSB Apiculture Task Force were Kim Burton, NOSB, Dave Carter, NOSB, Lynn 

Coody, Organic Agsystems, Harriet Behar, Independent Organic Inspectors Association, Doug 

McGinnis, Tropical Blossom Honey, Mike Ingalls, Pure Foods, Inc., and Garnett Puett, organic 

beekeeper. Thank you.
Advisors to the Task Force were Dr. Joerg Schmidt-Bailey, U of IL, Dr. Eric Mussen, UC-Davis, 

Dr. Michael Burgett, Oregon State, Dr. Malcolm Sanford, U of FL, Dr. Tanya Pankiw, Texas A&M, 

Gene Brandi, National Honey Board, Arthur Harvey, beekeeper, Dan Weaver, beekeeper, W.C. 

Blaiklock, MOFGA, and John and Merrill Clark, Roseland Organic Farm. Thank you. 

The Task Force was ably assisted by Mark Keating of the USDA’s National Organic Program.

Respectfully Submitted,

James A. Riddle 

Chair, NOSB Apiculture Task Force 

Addendum I: Definition of Honey and Honey Products 

Approved by the National Honey Board June 15, 1996 

PART A: HONEY 

I. Definition

Honey is the substance made when the nectar and sweet deposits from plants are gathered, 

modified and stored in the honeycomb by honey bees.

The definition of honey stipulates a pure product that does not allow for the addition of any other 

substance. This includes, but is not limited to, water or other sweeteners.

II. Typical Composition

As a natural product, the composition of honey is highly variable.

Average Range Standard 

Deviation

Fructose/Glucose Ratio 1.23 0.76 - 1.86 0.126

Fructose, % 38.38 30.91 - 44.26 1.77

Glucose, % 30.31 22.89 - 40.75 3.04

Minerals (Ash), % 0.169 0.020 - 1.028 0.15

Moisture, % 17.2 13.4 - 22.9 1.46

Reducing Sugars, % 76.75 61.39 - 83.72 2.76

Sucrose, % 1.31 0.25 - 7.57 0.87

PH 3.91 3.42 - 6.10 ---

Total Acidity, meq/kg. 29.12 8.68 - 59.49 10.33

True Protein, mg/100g. 168.6 57.7 - 567 70.9

References
F:G ratio, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose: White, J. W. Jr. 

Detection of Honey Adulteration by Carbohydrate Analysis, Jour. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 63 (1) 11-18. 1980. 

Reducing Sugars and pH: Calculated from data in White, J. W., Jr. et al. 

Composition of American Honeys. Tech. Bull. 1261, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, 

D.C. 1962.

Protein: White, J. W. Jr., and Rudyj, O. N. 

The Protein Content of Honey. Jour. Apicul. Res., 17 (4) 234-238. 1978. 

Moisture, Total Acidity, and Minerals: White, J. W., Jr. , et al. 

Composition of American Honeys. Tech. Bull. 1261, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington 

D.C. 1962

III. Types of Honey

Comb honey: Honey presented in its original comb or portions thereof.

Extracted honey: Honey removed from the comb and presented in several forms, as defined in 

the United States Department of Agriculture Standards for Grades: (1) liquid, (2) crystallized or 

granulated, or (3) partially crystallized. This is commonly known, and referred throughout the 

document, as "honey." 

IV. Designation of Honey Sources - the source of honey determines many of the attributes of 

honey, e.g., aroma, flavor, color and composition.

Floral: Indicates the primary flowers from which bees gathered nectar to produce the honey.

Non-Floral: Indicates primary sources other than flowers such as extra-floral nectaries and 

honeydew.

Geographic Origin: The name of an area of production (state, region) may be included, provided 

the honey has been produced entirely within that area. Blends containing honey of foreign origin 

must be labeled to indicate their origin(s), in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations 

(CFR). 

V. Forms of Honey

1. Blended Honey: A homogeneous mixture of two or more honeys differing in floral source, color, 

flavor, density or geographic origin.

2. Churned Honey: See whipped honey.

3. Creamed Honey: See whipped honey

4. Crystallized Honey: Honey in which part of the natural glucose content has spontaneously 

crystallized from solution as the monohydrate. Also called "Granulated Honey."

5. Filtered Honey: Honey processed by filtration to remove extraneous solids and pollen grains.

6. Honey Fondant: See whipped honey.

7. Organic Honey: Honey produced, processed, and packaged in accordance with State and 

Federal regulations on honey and organic products, and certified by a State Department of 

Agriculture or an independent organic farming certification organization.
8. Raw Honey: Honey as it exists in the beehive or as obtained by extraction, settling or straining 

without adding heat.

8a. Commercially Raw Honey: Honey as obtained by minimum processing. This product is often 

labeled as raw honey.

Notes: 1) Storage or exposure to either ambient (environmental) or applied (deliberately added) 

heat influences the character of honey. 2) Enzymatic activity, antimicrobial properties, microbial 

quality, color and chemical composition are all influenced by heat and storage. 3) There are an 

infinite number of time and temperature combinations that will affect the raw state of honey. 4) 

The definition of "minimum" processing can be set by purchasing standards.

9. Spun® Honey: See whipped honey.

10. Strained Honey: Honey which has been passed through a mesh material to remove 

particulate material (pieces of wax, propolis, other defects) without removing pollen.

11. Whipped Honey: Honey processed, by controlled crystallization, to a smooth spreadable 

consistency. Also called "Cremed Honey," "Spun® Honey," "Whipped Honey," "Churned Honey," 

"Candied Honey" or "Honey Fondant." 

VI. Grading

Current U.S. Standards for Grades of Extracted Honey and Comb Honey (CFR Title 7, Part 52, 

sections 1391-1405) are herein incorporated by reference. The grading of extracted honey 

includes factors such as color, clarity, absence of defects, moisture, flavor and aroma.

VII. Methods of Analysis

The official methods of analysis for honey of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists 

International are herein incorporated by reference (AOAC 1995, 16th edition, section 44.4).

PART B: HONEY PRODUCTS 

Honey products do not meet the compositional criteria for honey; but are products consisting in 

whole or in part of honey.

Imitation or artificial honey is a mixture of sweeteners, colored and flavored to resemble honey. 

This product does not meet the definition of honey or honey products. As such, it is inappropriate 

to include the word honey on the label of such a product.

This is a partial and constantly growing list intended to standardize the vocabulary used in the 

honey trade.

1. Deionized Honey: A honey product where honey has been processed to remove selected ions.

2. Deproteinized Honey: A honey product from which protein has been removed, from the honey, 

by appropriate processing.

3. Dried Honey: Honey which has been dehydrated and in which edible drying aids and 

processing adjuncts may be included to facilitate processing and improve product stability. Dried 

honey comes in various particle sizes.
4. Honey Extract: Any product formed by removing selected components from honey. The nature 

of the component (flavor, color, etc.) determines the type of extract. See natural honey flavor.

5. Honey Spread: A variety of edible, extremely viscous honey products made from honey or 

creamed honey. Honey spread is sometimes blended with other ingredients (such as: fruits, nuts, 

flavors, spices or margarine but excluding refined sweeteners).

6. Natural Honey Flavor: A substance obtained (often by extraction) only from honey that contains 

the flavor constituents of honey.

7. Ultrafiltered Honey: Honey from which all materials not passing a specified submicron 

membrane pore size have been removed. Materials removed include most proteins, enzymes 

and polypeptides. Evaporation required in the processing may also remove some volatile flavor 

and aroma constituents.