Guest guest Posted May 26, 2007 Report Share Posted May 26, 2007 Disease fears prompt call for foreign bee ban Friday, 25/05/2007 The head of the Senate's Rural Committee is calling for an immediate ban on bee imports, to prevent the entry of a devastating mystery disease. Senator Bill Heffernan has the support of Labor senators for the ban because of fears about colony collapse disorder, which has wiped out US and European stocks. The Victorian Apiarists Association is opposing a ban on queen bee breeders, because Australia needs foreign genetics. But Senator Heffernan says imports are endangering not only the honey industry, but all cropping and fruit sectors which rely on bee pollination. " Billions of dollars worth of stonefruit et cetera, a whole range of crops, which the bees are busy promoting, will come to nothing, " he said. " So I would've thought that given the extraordinary pollination problems that creates, that at the very least Australia should take the precaution of banning all bee imports into Australia. " http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/2006/s1933306.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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