EU Ban on Indian Honey to Affect Prices: Kashmir Apiaries.

Chandigarh, (PTI) Country''s leading honey exporter Kashmir Apiaries today said that ban imposed by European Union (EU) on Indian honey would cause dip in honey prices in global markets, besides hitting country''s honey industry.

"Honey industry is facing ban on honey export imposed by European Union...as a result of it, the honey prices in the country are likely to crash and vulnerable beekeepers will lose their sustainable livelihood, as they will be forced to abandon beekeeping which will be a major setback to the beekeeping industry in India," company CMD Jagjit Kapoor said in a statement issued here today.

EU this year banned export of honey from India on account of positive detection of heavy metals and other contaminants.
It is the second largest destination for Indian honey exports after the US. India exports honey to over 60 nations. India''s honey exports totalled USD 32.39 million in 2008-09.

Ludhiana-based company further feared that decrease in honey production due to this ban would also threaten food security in the country. "because honeybees play an important role in boosting the crop productivity by crop pollination," he said.

Kapoor said that he had launched a nationwide beekeeping training programme at its Lee Bee International Institute of Beekeeping & Agro-Enterprises (IBA) and so far more than 6,000 beekeepers or farmers across the country have been trained in producing the quality honey.

A high-tech honey testing laboratory has also been established for checking contamination in honey due to antibiotics and other residues.

He further informed that this company in order to popularise the per-capita consumption of honey in India (which at present is very low as compared to other countries), Kashmir Apiaries Exports has taken an initiative to open 100 honey retail shops in India and of these, 7 are already functional in Delhi and Punjab.

To cater to growing export and domestic market, Little Bee has plans to double its honey production capacity by 2011 end, which will involve capital outlay of Rs 40 crore. It would capacity of honey boxes to 1 lakh from 52,000 at present. Kashmir Apiaries is already exporting honey to 49 countries.

Source : news.in.msn.com