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Vol. 1984/0 188 
  
 
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Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
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classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Communit y and the European Atom ic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), t his file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februa r 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003  
(ABI. L 243 v om 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit  
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5  
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.  
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C O M (84) 4 64 final
Brussels, 1 1  S ep tem b er 1 9 8 4
R ep o rt fro m  the C o m m is s io n  to the C o u n cil
o n  the sy stem  o f aid for beekeeping established b y  
C o u n cil R egulation ( E E C )  N o  1 1 9 6 /8 1
C O M (8 4 ) 4 6 4  final

R eport from  the C om m ission to the Council 
o n  the system  of aid for beekeeping established b y  
Council Regulation (E E C ) N o  1196/81
This report has been draw n u p  in accordance with Article 7(2) of 
Council Regulation (E E C ) N o  1196/81 . H ow ever, it has been delayed
because of the problem s linked with the preparation of the ad-hoc 
research program m e o n  Varroa-mite disease w hich the C om m ission w a s  
charged to organize following Council Regulation (E E C ) N o  1994/83
T h e present report is based o n  the reports submitted b y  the M e m b e r 
States o n  the implementation of Regulation 1196/81 during the first 
marketing year, as well as o n  a  nu m b er of meetings with exports from  
the M e m b e r States. Further valuable information w a s  m a d e  available 
from  the w orking group "H oney" of C O P A - C O G E C A , as well as from  dis­
cussions with this group.
T h e  report com prises the follow ing chapters:
I State and evolution of beekeeping in the E E C
II Im plem entation o f C ouncil R egulation ( E E C )
N o  1196/81
III Possible future c o m m o n  m easu res in the sector 
of beekeeping
A n n e x e s
O.J. L  1 2 2  of 6.5.1981, p. 1. 
O.J. L  1 9 6  of 20.7.1983, p. 8.

I  State a n d  evolution o f beekeeping in the E E C
1 ) T h e  value of total E E C  production of honey, the m ain product of bee­
keeping, can b e estimated at betw een 150 to 200 M E C U , i.e. representing 
0.15 %  of the final production of agriculture. It is not possible to 
give a n  estimate of the value of other products from  beekeeping (w ax, 
pollen etc.) or of breeding. It has, how ever, to b e noted that bees 
play an  important rule for plant production through pollination an d  
contribute to a  balanced environement in rural regions.
2) Despite rather considerable annual variations, honey production has 
rem ained m o re or less steady over the last ten years, am ounting to 
about 30-40.000 t for E E C  9  and 40-50.000 t for E E C  10, respectively.
A s  a  result of rising dem and, consum ption has increased b y  5 0  %  since 
1973/74, leading to grow ing honey imports w hich in the m ain  are supplied 
from  Latin Am erica, East Europe, C hina and Australia (see tables 1  +  2). 
H ow ever, d em an d  seem s to have stagnated or even slightly declined since 
1 9 8 2  following the econom ic recession and m o re favourable prices for 
other bread spreads.
3 ) There is n o  com plete information o n  the total nu m b er of beekeepers and 
beehives in the C om m unity, as in m o st M e m b e r States only estimates are 
available. It is therefore extremely difficult to c o m m e n t o n  the figures 
contained in table 3, w hich indicate the likely past evolution of the 
nu m b er of beekeepers and hives in the various M e m b e r States, o n  the 
basis of data collected b y  C 0 P A  and C om m ission expert groups.
This lack of precise information is to b e explained b y  the structure of 
beekeeping characterized in m o st M e m b e r States b y  the predom inance of 
small amateur-beekeepers. In countries like Italy, B elgium  and D enm ark, 
an  estimated 7 0  %  of all beekeepers possess less than 2 5  hives; in 
Ireland and in the U K , the percentage is even higher going u p  to 9 0  % . 
Similarly, m o re than 9 0  %  of total G e rm a n  bee population is kept b y  
people having less than 1 0 0  hives. O n  the other hand, only 1-3 %  of the 
total nu m b er of beekeepers are said to b e full-time or professional bee­
keepers having several hundreds of hives. Estimates from  France and 
G reece indicate that this group m a y  have betw een 2 5  and 3 5  %  of the 
total bee-population in these countries w here climatic conditions are 
m o re favourable for beekeeping.

-  2 -
4) H oney, being an  annex II product is, how ever, not subject to a  
c o m m o n  m arket organisation. This stem s from  the fact that the 
regim e for imports from  third countries is not fully harm onized 
yet. W hereas m o st countries have adopted fully liberalized imports 
to b e able to m eet the grow ing internal dem and, so m e  M e m b e r States 
apply im port licences for certain origins (France) or operate annual 
quotas for imports from  State trading countries (France, Italy).
T h e general im port duty is fixed at 2 7  Z . In the fram ew ork of the 
system of general tariff preferences, this in fact is reduced to 
2 5  Z  for developing countries in general and to 0  %  for the 3 8  
least advanced D C . A  0-rate also applies to A C P  countries. Despite 
permanently lo w  im port prices, E E C  producers obtain m u c h  higher prices 
for h o m e  produce, m u c h  of w hich is of course consum ed b y  amateur-bee­
keepers themselves or sold directly to consumers. Im port and producer 
prices are com pared in table 4  for G erm any, w hich does not only 
provide 2 5  %  of total E E C  production, but accounts for 6 0  %  of total 
E E C  imports. It becom es apparent, that average producer prices have 
been rising since 1975/76 b y  6 9  % , i.e. 7.8 Z  p.a., but im port pri ces 
b y  9.5 Z  only ( =  1.3 Z  p.a.).
5) C o m m u n ity  beekeepers have in the past benefitted from  several system s 
of aid. B etw een 1968 and 1980, denatured feeding sugar could b e  
obtained from  sugar interventions stocks. D uring the last cam paign 
for this schem e in 1980, a  total of 13-610 tonnes of sugar w a s m a d e  
available with an  am o u n t of 2.8 M E C U  spent o n  prem ium s for denaturing.
A s  this schem e w a s not applied during 1974-1976, following a  period of 
high w orld m arket prices for sugar, a  direct aid of 2.5 M U A  w a s  
distributed to beekeepers associations in the M e m b e r States as the 
result of an  intervention of the European Parliament. Furthermore, the 
C om m ission had m a d e  a  proposal, in 1975, to grant aid to beekeepers 
associations for three consecutive years, but this proposal has neiter 
been approved b y  the Council nor b y  the Parliament. Finally, the Council 
adopted in 1 9 8 1  the present system  of aid w hich is also applicable for 
three years.

- 3  -
II Implementation of Regulation 1196/81
6 ) Because of s o m e  rather poor years for beekeeping at the end of the 
seventies (yields w ere rather lo w  because of bad weather conditions 
in greater parts of the E E C , as can b e seen from  table 1  indicating 
below  average production for 1978/79 until 1980/81), it w a s  
considered opportune not to withdraw at once all C o m m u n ity  subsidies 
from  the beekeeping sector, w h e n  it b ecam e clear in 1980 that the 
schem e for denatured sugar could not b e continued after that year 
because of the then modified c o m m o n  m arket organization for sugar.
T h e  Council therefore approved regulation 1196/81 establishing a  
system  of aid for beekeeping for three marketing years with the m ain  
aim  to grant aid "to this sector over a  period long enough to enable 
the initiation of a  process of long term im provem ent".
T h e level of aid w a s fixed at 1  E C U /hive in production and per year, 
in order to arrive at total budget expenditures w hich are only 
slightly above the corresponding figure from  the previous sugar schem e.
7) T h e  m ain points of this aid schem e are:
a) T h e  aid is granted as a  specific contribution to associations of 
beekeepers recognized b y  the M e m b e r States.
b ) Applications for aid to the M e m b e r State are to b e based o n  
declarations from  individual beekeepers to the association o n  the 
nu m b er of hives in production.
c) O nly those associations shall b e eligible for grants, w hich d o  not 
exclude non-m em ber beekeepers from  the benefit of the aid, i.e. 
accept their declarations and let them  participate.
d ) T h e  grant can b e used b y  the association for the purchase of 
feeding sugar to b e distributed at reduced rates to registered 
holders, or for general program m es for the im provem ent of honey 
production, technology and marketing. T h e  possibility to limit the 
use of the grant for the purchase of sugar as offered in Article 
5(3) of Regulation 1196/81 for 1982/83 and 1983/84 w a s never used 
b y  the Council himself, as h e agreed to the total flexibility of 
either u p  to 10 0  %  sugar or 1 0 0  % general program m es for these 
years too (see Council R eg. (E E C ) N o  637/82^ and 1806/83^.
... /...
(1 )0-J. N o  L  7 6  of 20.3.1982, p. 6. 
(2>0.J. N o  L  1 7 7  of 1.7.1983, p. 1.

- 4  -
8 ) T o  facilitate the application o f regulation 1196/81, the C o m m is s io n  
adopted a  regulation fixing the rules for converting the a m o u n t o f
n)aid into N ational C urrencies (R e g . ( E E C )  N o  3 4 4 7 /8 1  )  o n  the basis
o f the representative rates a s applicable at the beginning o f the 
m arketing year.
Furtherm ore, tw o  notes o f inform ation (6/82 a n d  7/82) w e re  delivered 
during the first m arketing year through F E O G A ,  the first concerning 
the possibility o f granting aid to national unions o f associations 
a n d  the seco n d  concerning the m odalities in the case o f feed sugar 
purchase.
9 ) D u rin g  the first m arketing year 1981/82, a  total aid o f 3.673.462 E C U  
w a s  paid to 2 1 5  associations o f beekeepers (see table 5). C o m p a re d  to 
the total estim ated n u m b e r o f hives (4.769.250), this m e a n s  that only
7 7  %  o f that estim ated total h a v e  b e e n  declared b y  beekeepers to
.  . .  ( 2) associations
T his percentage varies considerably b etw een  M e m b e r  States am o u n tin g  to 
9 0  %  a n d  m o r e  in G e rm a n y , Denmark^ a n d  L u x e m b o u rg , 7 5  %  in F rance, 
G reece, N etherlands a n d  U K ,  6 0  %  in Ireland a n d  B e lg iu m  a n d  only 5 0  % 
in Italy. T h e se  varying figures m a y  b e  explained in the m a in  b y  the 
follow ing factors (apart fro m  the faet o f 1 9 8 1 /8 2  being the first year 
o f that n e w  s c h e m e  w h ic h  m a y  h a v e  led to initial administrative p ro b lem s 
for s o m e  associations):
- degree o f organization, i.e. percentage o f beekeepers being m e m b e r s  
o f associations,
- organizational set-up a n d  strength o f these associations,
- willingness o f beekeepers (in particular n o n -m e m b e rs) to provide 
declarations o n  n u m b e r o f hives, i.e. fear to disclose "business 
secrets" to professional associations a n d  (possibly) to State 
authorities in order to obtain a  (rather m oderate) subsidy.
■../...
O .J. N o  L  3 4 7  o f 3.12.1981, p . 1 3 .
T h is percentage did no t ch an g e very m u c h  during the 1 9 8 2 /8 3  m arketing 
year, b u t rose to 8 8  %  in 1 9 8 3 /8 4  according to provisional. figures 
subm itted fro m  the M e m b e r  States (see tabte 6).
A ccording to C O P A -esti mates :  7 5  %.

- 5  -
1 0 ) T h e  varying organizational set u p  o f organization is also reflected 
b y  the n u m b e r o f associations o f the different levels h av in g  b e e n  
recognized b y  the M e m b e r  States for aid:
beekeepers associ ations beekeepers o r 
agri cultural
national regional local cooperatives
B elg i u r n 1 0 4
D e n m a r k 3
G e r m a n y 1  w ith 1 4 affi li ated
+  3 i  nd ep en d en t
G ree ce 2 2 4agricultural +
4beekeepers
F ran ce 3 1national +
2regional
I  reland 1  w ith 4 1 affili ated
Italy 1 3 2 6
L u x e m b o u rg 1  w ith  1 2 affili ated
N etherlands 2 3
U K 1 1 2 4
Total E E C (1 ) 1 3 2 4 1 6 1 7
1 1 ) O f  the total a m o u n t granted, 7 3  %  h a s b e e n  u sed  for the purchase o f 
feeding sugar. In  fact, there are four countries in w h ic h  all o f the 
grant w a s  u sed  for that purpose: B elg iu m , D e n m a rk , Ireland, N ether­
lands. O n ly  in F ran ce a  little m o r e  than half o f the a m o u n t w a s  u sed  
for general actions. T h e  reason o f this w a s  the close cooperation 
b etw een  organizations, technical institute for beekeeping a n d  state 
authorities to arrive at a  c o m m o n  p ro g ra m m e  in the fields o f training 
activities, research, m arketing a n d  disease prevention. T h u s, the 
F ren ch  case c a n  b e  considered a s being a n  excellent e x a m p le  for the 
u se o f the aid tow ards the m o r e  lo n g  term  goals for structural 
im p ro v em en ts in this sector.
m m m / ...
(1 ) T h e  total d o e s n o t s u m  u p  to the figure s h o w n  in table 5  o f the annex, 
a s n o t all o f the associations h a v e  finally received the grant (Italy) 
or that aid h a s  b e e n  paid through the national associations (Ireland, 
L u x em b o u rg ).

-  6 -
12) In France, general actions have m ainly been carried out in the field
of training projects (2 1  %  of total grant - training sessions, purchase 
of audiovisuel material for sensibilisation of the public and of bee­
keepers, equipm ent for training centres) and for research destined at 
im proving production m ethods and products (23 %  - im provem ent of data 
processing regarding breeding and selection activities; research o n  
pollen and honey quality). In the other fields of general actions, 
marketing and prophylaxy, grants m a d e  it possible to contribute to the 
im provem ent of contractual relations and of packing centres, as well as 
to study the effects of plant protection m easures o n  honeybees.
In G erm an y  and in the U K  too, m o st of the general actions are said to 
have concentrated o n  teaching projects including the set-up and prom otion 
of honorary (unpaid) extension services.
O n  the other hand, general actions in G reece w ere concerned above all 
with publicity and other marketing activities, in particular concerning 
direct sales b y  producers and their cooperatives.
13) B ased o n  the experience of implementing the aid schem e during the first 
marketing year, regulation 1196/81 w a s am ended in 1 9 8 3  as regards the delays/ < 1  \and conditions of paym ent of the aid, b y  Council Regulation (E E C ) N o  1994/83 .
14) W ith the sa m e regulation, the Council decided o n  a  C o m m u n ity  m easure aim ed 
at establishing an  ad-hoc research program m e o n  varroa-mite disease w hich 
has spred in recent years over a  num ber of M e m b e r States and is threatening 
the w hole of Europe. T o  this end, the aid per hive for the marketing year 
1983/84 w a s increased b y  0.07 E C U  to b e allocated for financing the ad-hoc 
research program m e. In fact, this c o m m o n  m easure had been requested b y  the 
G e rm a n  Beekeeper's U nion in 1982, following w hich the C om m ission h ad  
organized a  sym posium  in early 1983 with research institutes aim ing at:
- exchange of view s o n  the state of the disease, its control and the 
research w o rk  already carried out or in progress,
- identifying the fields of further studies.
T h e  C om m ission has adopted in October 1983 a  research program m e o n  Varroa^ 
and has concluded research contracts with 1 2  instituts in 7  M e m o e r States 
w hich also provide for a  close cooperation betw een the various instituts 
involved.
•  ·  ·  /...
(1) 0.J. N o  L  1 96 of 20.7.1983, p. 8.
(2)C om m unication from  the C om m ission to the Council o n  the research program m e
on Varroa-mite disease for the 1983/84 marketing year. C 0M (83)576 final, 4.10.1983.

- 7  -
15) F ro m  the reports submitted b y  the M e m b e r States, half of them  did 
not provide any evaluation of the schem e. O f  the remaining, the 
following critical points w ere mentioned:
- level of aid too low-preventing beekeepers from  m aking declarations 
( 1  M e m b e r State)
- administrative expenses' too high (also in relation to level of aid)
(2  M e m b e r States)
- allow for recognition of national federations, also to permit 
organisation of general program m es at national level (2  M e m b e r States)
- delays in paym ents ( 1  M e m b e r State).
D uring the discussions with M e m b e r States experts, the d em an d  for 
extending delays w a s  supported b y  so m e  m o re M e m b e r States and w a s  then 
included in the C om m ission proposal w hich led to the a m en d m en t of 
regulation 1196/81 referred to under paragraph 13.
F ro m  an  expert group meeting it becam e apparent also that the question 
of recognition of associations needed to b e looked at closer and that 
there w a s  a  tendency to put m o re em phasis o n  general actions (less o n  
sugar) and o n  central C o m m u n ity  actions, for exam ple o n  V arroa research.
1 6 ) T h e  observations m a d e  b y  the professional associations themselves, 
com m unicated through the C O P A  w orking group "H oney", can b e sum m arized 
as follows:
nu m b er of suuporting 
delegations:
- increase the aid 8
- m o re em phasis o n  general program m es, less
for sugar 5
- discontinue individual declarations and use 
total nu m b er of hives (data from  census - 
associations - official national estimates)
for repartition of aid 5
- p ro m o te research o n  V arro a a n d  other
diseases o n  European level 4
- centralize aid via national federations 3
- cover administrative expenses 3
- reduce delays 2
provide for a  long term aid schem e ^
. . .  /. . .

-  8 -
III Possible future c o m m o n  m easures in the sector of beekeeping
17) T h e aid schem e adopted b y  regulation 1196/81 had to serve tw o aim s: 
in the short run, to com pensate for rising prices for feeding sugar 
and bad weather conditions via reducing prices for feeding sugar; 
in the m e d iu m  term, to enable the initiation of a  process of long­
term im provem ent of the sector, via general program m es.
18) A lthough the majority of associations decided to use the aid granted 
above all for the purchase of sugar, this action had apparently 
little im pact o n  the extent of beekeeping or o n  the volum e of honey 
production, w hich seem s to have rem ained stable over the last decade. 
T h e level of aid is certainly not such as to stimulate production, 
and has even been insufficient to force all beekeeper m em b ers of 
associations to m a k e  declarations, in particular those w ith only a  
few  colonies. It can also b e demonstrated that if the total am o u n t of 
aid ( 1  E C U  =  2.50 D M )  is used for the purchase of sugar, this w ould 
reduce the variable costs of beekeeping (estimated at 1 3 8  D M  in 
G erm any, see table 7) b y  not m o re than 1.8 X. In other words, the 
gross m argin per m a n  hour could have been increased from  11.40 D M  to 
11.65 D M .
1 9 ) O n  the other hand, if full account w ould b e taken of standard fixed
*  ,  ,  (1)costs as well , a  very substantial am o u n t of aid w ould b e needed to 
assure a  reasonable return per m a n  hour. This am o u n t can b e estimated 
at 2 5  EC U /colony, i.e. 2 5  times the actual aid.
20) In conclusion it m a y  b e said that such an  increase of direct incom e 
aid, even over a  longer period, w ould b e totally irrealistic in view  
of present and future budget restrictions. Furthermore, it w ould not 
provide any incentives to im prove productivity as it is linked to the 
num ber of hives, and w ould b e above all to the benefit of large 
production units. O n  the other hand, doubling of the grant as re­
quested b y  a  num ber of national beekeepers association w ould still not 
result in a  significant cost reduction, even if the total am o u n t is to 
b e spent o n  feed sugar. It should also be recalled that the total 
am ount of aid per average E E C  producer beekeeper corresponds to 12.5 
E C U  only.
■ · · / · · ·
According to the sa m e source as indicated in annex table 7.

- 9  -
21) It thus seem s that the appropriate L o n g  term solution w ould b e to 
discontinue any type of incom e aid, either in the form  of direct 
paym ents (as done 1976) or in the form  of grants to reduce input 
prices (as for feed sugar), and to concentrate o n  strucural m easures 
to im prove productivity of the sector. This w ould also have the 
advantage that high costs involved in administration and 
distribution of aid to a  m a x im u m  num ber of _ +  360.000 producers 
could b e reduced. A lthough national beekeepers associations are not 
necessarily agreeing with totally abandoning direct aid, the 
majority of them  are, how ever, in favour of putting the m ain  
em phasis o n  w h at has so far been called "general actions" (see 
paragraph 16).
22) W ithin this group of measures, the following dom aines are of 
particular interest:
a) information and training
b ) im provem ent of marketing
c) protection of bees from  diseases and phytosanitary products.
23) W hereas information and training of beekeepers to im prove production 
m ethods and marketing seem  to b e well covered b y  G overnm ent extension 
services in cooperation with beekeepers' associations in m o st M e m b e r 
States, particularly in the N orth of the E E C , further needs seem  to 
exist in the South w here the degree of organization is less developed. 
Further efforts should therefore b e m a d e  in this respect b y  using 
above all the instruments available or proposed in the fram ew ork of 
the agricultural structures' policy. T hey concern in particular:
- Directive 72/161/E E C  o n  socio-economic information and professional
qualification and its proposed continuation under a  Council Regulation
(1 )o n  im proving the efficiency of agricultural structures . T h e latter 
also relates, in its title V , to the adjustment of vocational 
training to the requirements of m odern agriculture. A ccording to this 
proposal, M e m b e r States m ay , in regions w here the need is apparent, 
introduce a  system  of special aid for the im provem ent of agricultural 
skells, comprising not only aid for the organization and attendance 
of training courses, but also for the establishment of agricultural 
training centres and for the implementation of pilot schem es to 
demonstrate to farmers the real possibilities of production systems, 
m ethods and techniques..../...
(1)C 0M (8 3 )5 5 9  of 10.10.1983.

10
- R egulation ( E E C )  N o  1 3 6 0 /7 8  regarding producer g ro u p s a n d  associations 
thereof (1). T h is regulation h a s b e e n  adopted to p ro m o te producer g ro u p s 
in certain regions o f the C o m m u n ity  (G reece a n d  Italy a s far as h o n e y
is concerned) aim in g  at a  better organization o f agricultural production 
a n d  m arketing. It provides for grants to recognized producer g ro u p s a n d  
their associations w h ic h  respect c o m m o n  rules for production a n d  m ark e­
ting, to sp eed  u p  their form ation a n d  facilitate their operations. T h e  
aid granted during three years m a y  n o t ex ceed  a  certain percentage o f 
actual form ation a n d  operating expenses covering a m o n g st other a d m i­
nistrative expenses also fees for technical services a n d  advice, a s 
laid d o w n  in C o m m is s io n  R egulation ( E E C )  N o  2 0 8 4 /8 0  (2).
- R egulation ( E E C )  N o  35 5 /7 7  o n  c o m m o n  m easu res to im p ro v e  conditions u n d er 
w h ic h  agricultural products are processed a n d  m arketed (3), b y  financing 
projects w h ic h  are included in specific p ro g ra m m e s d ra w n  u p  b y  the M e m b e r  
States. T h e  C o m m is s io n  h a s proposed to extend the period envisaged for 
the achievem ent o f the c o m m o n  m easu re until e n d  1 9 9 4 .
It should b e  noted, that the aforem entioned c o m m o n  m easures w o u ld  n o t bene­
fit all beekeepers a n d  beekeepers' associations to a n  eq u al degree, a s 
d o es the present aid sch em e, b u t w o u ld  b e  rather selective a s they concern 
specific producers, groups o f producers, regions o r projects. W h a t  is m o re , 
their success d ep en d s o f course u p o n  the efforts m a d e  b y  beekeepers and/or 
their organizations them selves, a s w ell a s u p o n  the support given to th e m  
b y  the M e m b e r  States.
... /...
(1 ) O .J. N o  L  1 6 6  o f 23.6.1978, p. 1 .
(2 ) O .J. N o  L  2 0 3  o f 5.8.1980, p. 9 .
(3 ) O .J. N o  L  5 1  o f 23.2.1977, p. 1 .

-  11  -
24) Protection of bees becom es m o re important in view  not only of 
spreading of disease, but also with reference to increased use
of pesticides and insecticides. T h e  C o m m u n ity  has already started 
a  research program m e o n  Varroa-mite disease (see paragraph 14), 
w hich the C om m ission intends to follow u p  in the context of its 
current 5  years plan for the coordination of agricultural research. 
Coordination of research should also b e aim ed at in the field of 
im pact of phytosanitary m easures o n  beekeeping. Further consideration 
should also b e  given to a  special c o m m o n  m easure to help bee­
keepers to bear the cost of eradication of Varroa disease, in 
addition to research financing.
25) Taking into account the state and recent evolution of beekeeping 
together with the experience gained from  various aid schem es, it
has to b e  concluded that a  continuation of the aid schem e established 
under Council Regulation (E E C ) N o  1196/81 seem s not to b e appropriate, 
particularly in view  of its limited econom ic impact. H ow ever, the 
C om m ission thinks that further support should b e provided to C o m m u n ity  
beekeepers
- in the form  of specific m easures regarding reserach into bee 
diseases and protection of bees, and possibly also with regard to 
disease eradication
- b y  encouraging beekeepers and M e m b e r States' authorities to m a k e  
use of already existing or proposed c o m m o n  m easures in the field 
of agricultural structures policy.

Table 1 : E E C  Supply Balance Sheet for H o n e y
E E C  9 E E C 1 0
A verage
1973/74-1975/76 1977/78 1978/79 1979/80 1980/81 1981/82 1980/81 1981/82
Prodücti o n 3 6 3 9 3 2 3 2 3 0 3 8 4 4 5 0
Imports if 1000 t7 1 8 7 1 0 4 1 0 6 1 1 2 1 2 8 * 1 1 1 1 2 6 *
Exports 2 6 5 6 8 9 * 8★9
C onsum ption J 1 06 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 3 2 1 3 4 1 5 7 1 4 6 1 6 7
Per capita 
consum pti o n k g 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.6
D egree of 
self-supplyX 34.0 32.4 24.6 24.4 22.5 24.3 30.3 30.0
Provi sional
Source: E U R O S T A T .

Table 2: E E C  Imports of H oney, tons
1 9 7 5 1 9 7 7 1 9 7 9 1 9 8 0 1 9 8 1 1 9 8 2
Intra-EEC trade 3.278 6.211 7.681 8.056 13.916 15.267
Imports from  Third Countries 81.237 80.254 105.688 104.930 115.033 117.882
of w hich from  Spain 5.234 3.826 1.432 1.460 1.496 1.050
East E urope 12.333 8.145 13.229 12.943 18.904 20.627
M exico 17.765 30.211 31.786 26.742 33.526 28.014
Argentina 9.547 10.148 16.981 15.410 14.024 13.518
C u b a 6.451 3.064 2.671 2.369 2.985 3.484
C hina 8.521 5.388 16.555 20.109 22.718 26.958
Australia 6.903 3.423 3.787 7.194 4.523 9.836
1975-1980: E U R  9  1981+ 1982: E U R  1 0
Source: E U R O S T A T  - N im exe.

Table 3: Estimated N u m b e r of Beekeepers and Beehives b y  M e m b e r States
1975/76 1979/80 1981/82 1982/83
Beekeepers H ives A verage Beekeepers H ives A verage H ives
Belgique 10.350 87.600 8.5 10.000 90.000 9.0 100.000
D a n m a rk 9.000 111.000 12.3 9.000 70.000 7.8 100.000
Deutschland 95.000 1.150.000 12.1 100.000 1.115.000 11.2 1.055.666
France 95.000 1.200.000 12.6 100.000 1.200.000 12.0 1.200.000
H e l las • 1.108.000 - 30.000 1.110.000 37.0 1.200.000
Ireland 2.300 30.000 13.0 2.623 23.250 8.9 28.590
Itali a 60.000 700.000 11.7 70.000 850.000 12.1 850.000
L ux em b o u rg 1.030 12.500 12.1 9 0 0 11.400 12.7 10.209 9.326
Nederland 9.400 70.000 7.4 11.400 80.000 7.0 80.000
United K in g d o m 41.960 234.400 5.6 44.600 219.600 4.9 210.000 220.000
E E C  9 324.040 3.594.500 11.1 348.523 3.659.250 10.5 3.634.465 3.643.582
E E C  1 0 • 4.702.500 • 378.523 4.769.250 12.6 4.834.465 4.843.582
S o u rce: 1979/80: C o m m issio n 's E x p ert G ro u p  beekeeping; otheF  years: C O P A .

Table 4: C om parison of producer and im port prices of honey in G erm an y  D M /t
v  1 )Y earA verage 
Producer 
Pri cePrice for imported honey from
Other M e m b e r 
StatesT h i rd count ri es
excl. I  incl.
2)im port duty
1 9 7 5 6.514 5.130 2.100 2.625
1976 6.544 5.130 2.030 2.538
1 9 7 7 7.001 4.530 1.970 2.463
1978 7.903 4.970 2.000 2.500
1979 8.958 5.640 2.070 2.588
1980 10.595 6.220 2.130 2.663
1 9 8 1 11.070 5.100 2.140 2.675
1 9 8 2 11.014 5.820 2.300 2.875
Producer price: marketing year July/June^.1975/76 =  1 9 7 5  
im port price: calendar year
2) 2 5  %
Source: E U R O S T A T : N im ex e
B M E L F : Statistisches Jahrbuch über Ernährung, Landwirtschaft u n d  Forsten.

Table 5: A id for beekeeping - marketing year 1981/82
E E Cgrant 1981/82
E S T I M A T I O N  1979/80 Utilisation of the aid
Total n u m b er ofA sso­
ciati o n s R eg i st ered H ivesRelation
m em b ers :I  m p ro v e m e n t
B ee- receiving H olders declared non- S ugar Training M arket i  n g of produc- Prophylaxie
keepersH ivesgrant m e m b e rs projectstion m e th o d  
+  products;
« /
B 10.600 90.000 1 5 5.941 55.159 9 6  :  4 1 0 07q
100.000 1.115.000 1 8 1.055.666 91.1O ÛD ■ u  ■
D K 9.000 70.000 3 74.832
5 6  :  441 )1 0 0
E L 30.000 1.110.000 1 2 892.920 74.6 0.9 22.2 2.3
F 100.000 1.200.000 3 887.962 8 7  :  1 3 40.6 21.2 9.2 22.9 6.1
IR L 2.623 23.250 1 17.640 1 0 0
IT 70.000 850.000 3 2 458.899 8 0 2 0
9 0 0 11.400 1 9 0 5 10.209 8 0. .  .  n nL ........  c . U
N L 11.400 80.000 5 60.289 1 0 0
U K 44.600 219.600 1 2 5 20.573 159.886 9 0  :  1 0 73.4 15.9 0.2 9.9 0.5
T O T A L 378.523 4.769.250 2 1 5 • 3.673.462 • 7 3
1982/83
Source: Reports from  M e m b e r States.

Table 6:N um ber of hives declared for E E C  aid 1196/81 and total F E O G A  expenditure
1981/82 1982/83 1983/84
N o  of hives
Belgi que 55.159 48.409a) 55.580
D a n m a rk 74.832 56.352 71.559
Deutschland 1.055.666 1.034.552a) 1.090.027
Ellas 892.920 1.092.060 1.371.000
France 887.962 835.497 868.064
Ireland 17.640 19.294 21.616
It a  l  i  a 458.899 260.000a) 546.606
L uxem bourg 10.209 9.326 10.130
Nederland 60.289 65.505 71.685
United K in g d o m 159.886 135.164 145.609
Total 3.673.462 3.556.159 4.246.056
F E O G A  expenditures, M E C U1 9 8 1 1 9 8 2 1 9 8 3 1 9 8 4
2.0 4.48 4.44 1.0*
B udget provision 
^CO PA -data.

Table 7: Structure of honey production costs per .b ee colony in G erm an y
U nit yiel.d/ D M /unit 'T ata l
expenditure D M
Production
H o n ey 2 0  k g 12.60 252.-
Variable costs
Stock replacement 1  queen 15.- 15.-
F eed sugar 20 k g 1.70 34.-
M arketing 40 glasses 0.60 24.-
F ram es 1  k g 3.- 3.-
Fuel, machinery 40.-
Electricity, .w ater 10.-
Insur ance 2.-
Repair, maintenance 10.-
Total variable costs 138.-
G ross m argin 114.-
L abor requirements m a n  hours
F or the colony 4.5
Office 0.5
Preparation of honey 1-0
M arketi n g 1.0
Other (repair etc.) 3.0
Total 10.0
G ross m argin per m a n hour 11.40
Source: H . Scherhag: Betriebswirtschaftliche Analyse des Imkerbetriebes G D  in 
"Allgemeine Deutsche Imkerzeitung" N o  6/T983 S . 174.