Moldova likely to resume honey exports to EU

Moldova could resume the exports of honey to the European Union by this yearend. The authorities say that they have taken all the measures needed to improve the situation in the area, Info-Prim Neo reports. A month ago, EU experts banned honey exports to the EU because the Moldovan honey contained residues of antibiotics used to treat the bees. At a meeting, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Anatol Gorodenco admitted that the honey contained large quantities of residues, but that was last year’s honey. According to the minister, the residues in the honey appeared after the beekeepers used different medicines without consulting the veterinary doctor, sometimes even medicines that were not recommended by the sanitary-veterinary service. On the other hand, experts say that most of the Moldovan beekeepers continue to treat the bees with antibiotics. The biological medications are not popular in Moldova as they are more expensive. The bees must be treated with biological medications that must be imported. The state should cover at least half of their price, but it has offered no assistance so far, said Valeriu Braniste, a beekeeper from Criuleni. The Moldovans consume one third of the about 2,000 tonnes of honey produced in the country each year.