Smuggling honey into New Zealand isn’t sweet

Federated Farmers Bee Industry Group applauds the tough line taken by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Border Staff at Auckland Airport. In deporting the couple found trying to smuggle bee products into New Zealand, not only does it underscore how serious Biosecurity is taken here, it could have prevented an economic disaster.

“Auckland airport's border staff take a bow, because you may have helped New Zealand dodge a bullet,” says Barry Hantz, Federated Farmers Canterbury Bees Chairperson.

“After MPI Border staff detected nearly three kilograms of honey and one kilogram of pollen concealed in luggage, the couple were rightly refused entry since they were coming here to work in our apiculture industry.
“It is gutting to see people coming to New Zealand to work in our beekeeping caught trying this on. We need beekeepers as we are short on staff but we don’t need people like this.

“If either honey or pollen came across the border it could have been a bloody disaster for our bee industry and New Zealand agriculture. The Kiwifruit Psa disease we understand came in on pollen and that’s caused losses measurable in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

“Since we don’t know the provenience of the honey they tried to smuggle in, it could have introduced either the Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IPV) or European foulbrood (EFB).

“Australia is battling both these serious diseases plus the terrible small hive beetle too.

“When you put these together with Varroa and Nosema ceranae, which have arrived here since 2000, New Zealand is acutely vulnerable. You are talking a deadly tipping point for not only New Zealand beekeeping but New Zealand agriculture.

“Varroa has cut a swathe through wild bee stocks while massively affecting the health of managed beehives. This has reduced the bee pollination workforce we have and is costing us beekeepers millions of dollars each year with ongoing Varroa treatments.

“Any threat to honeybees could have a disastrous effect upon not only our honey industries but any primary industry relying on pollination, especially pastures like clover. The risk is measurable in the billions and smuggled honey and pollen carries ‘risk’ in flashing red lights.

“You see anything of colour on your dinner plate is a direct result on pollination.

“It is imperative that threats to New Zealand’s borders are stringently protected to ensure no threats get past the border and MPI has done the right thing in refusing the couple entry.
“Federated Farmers reminds beekeepers if they are employing international staff, it is imperative that they understand the unique position of the New Zealand Bee Industry.

“This means no bee products or beekeeping equipment coming into New Zealand given the risk of bee diseases and pests let alone the risk to our primary industries,” Mr Hantz concluded.

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