At the request of the Tanzanian Government, Traidcraft drew up a residue monitoring plan which has now been accepted by the EU committee responsible for the list of approved honey exporting countries.
Once endorsed by the Commission, it should mean exports of Tanzanian honey can resume later this year.
Traidcraft’s International Director, Andy Redfern, explains: “Since February last year it has been illegal for us to import honey into the European Union. This has meant that the 2001 crop has not been sold on fair trade terms and that has meant real hardship for the farmers and their families.
"In 2002 we’ll be able to pick up our long-established relationship with the honey producers to deliver real benefits to them, their families and their communities."
Many of the producers penalised through the legislation are organically certified and, by definition, are achieving much higher standards of residues than many of the non-organic suppliers who have national governments complying with legislation.
Even more perversely, the EU funds a number of forest honey projects across Africa that aim to gain European market access for the groups involved. Normally, Traidcraft would expect to import around 50,000kgs of honey, worth approximately £25,000 to members of a farming co-op near Tabora in central Tanzania.
Background:
The co-op is based near Tabora in central Tanzania. Small scale
farmers in this area gather honey as a seasonal source of income.
Their hives are hung in trees in the surrounding forest (sometimes
50-100 miles away from their homes). The log hives encouraged
by the co-op are cheap to make and can last 25 years or more.
Some 1,800 people benefit from membership of the co-op, which covers a huge area and includes nearly 40 branch co-ops. The co-op provides important benefits such as lorry transport. Honey is heavy and, without this help, can only be carried in small quantities on the head or shoulders. If beekeepers leave it hidden in the forest for too long they risk it being stolen by honey badgers or even elephants!
The income from honey is an important supplement to farming incomes and helps to pay for expenses like schooling, medicine, clothing, and building houses.
Benefits to members of Tabora
Transport of the honey is organised and paid for by the co-op.
Buckets are provided to carry the honey.
Marketing services are provided to help beekeepers sell their
crop. The crop is sold locally within Tanzania and exported through
fair trade organisations.
The co-op protects beekeepers' interests; for example it supported
the hives being allowed to remain in game reserves.
How fair trade makes a difference
Fair trade buyers offer advance payments. These are important
to the co-op as they mean farmers can be paid promptly and there
is money to pay for transporting the honey from the forest. Traidcraft
has over the years given assistance with equipment and marketing
and also paid for organic certification.
The co-op is very important to me and to other bee keeper members. Many live a long way from their hives - several days walking. The co-op is able to co-ordinate and arrange the transport of the honey... When I get the money after selling my honey I buy all the house supplies for the family needs and the balance I keep for the savings in case of any future emergencies. Edward Hillary, a beekeeper and small farmer.
See Edward in the Traidcraft video: IT'S A FAIR CROP!
Traidcraft
Kingsway
Gateshead
Tyne & Wear
NE11 0NE
UK
Tel: 0191 491 0591
Fax: 0191 497 6562
E mail: comms@traidcraft.co.uk