Australian honey slips through customs

The National Beekeepers' Association is concerned that a box of honey posted from Australia was not detected by New Zealand Customs. The association said the honey was sent to a resident in the Nelson area recently and brought to the attention of a local association member.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry classes honey as a prohibited import, to protect the bee industry from diseases such as European foulbrood, rife in Australia.

"The bee industry is taking active steps to address the impact of the Varroa bee mite," association vice-president Lin McKenzie said. "An incursion of the European foulbrood would be the final straw for many beekeepers."