General Principles

5.9.1 Beekeeping is an important activity that contributes to the protection of the environment and agricultural and forestry production through the pollination action of bees.

5.9.2 The qualification of beekeeping products as being from organic production is closely bound up both with the characteristic of the hive treatments and the quality of the environment. This qualification also depends on the conditions for extraction, processing and storage of beekeeping products.

5.9.3 When an operator runs several beekeeping units in the same area all the units must comply with the requirements of this Standard.

By derogation from this principle, an operator can run units not complying with this Standard provided that all the requirements of this Standard are fulfilled with the exception of the provisions laid down in paragraph 5.9.12 for the siting of the apiaries. In that case, the product cannot be sold with references to organic production methods.

Where an exception has been granted AsureQuality will undertake inspections more frequently than once per year and at critical times. This will normally include inspections at the time of harvest of during processing.
 
Accurate production estimates must be recorded along with sales records. An inspection will include a visit of the non-organic fields and processing units.