South Korea to require quarantine checks on imported beekeeping honey and pollen

South Korea will make quarantine inspections mandatory for imported honey and pollen used in beekeeping, the government announced Thursday, in a move to block bee diseases from entering the country and protect the domestic beekeeping industry.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency said it has revised the relevant public notice to bring beekeeping honey and pollen under the animal quarantine regime. The revised rules take effect Nov. 27.

Beekeeping honey and pollen had previously been exempt from quarantine requirements, but concerns raised by the beekeeping industry that imported bee feed could introduce diseases prompted the regulatory overhaul.

The agency developed the new quarantine procedures and designated the two products as quarantine targets after consulting with experts and industry representatives.

Once the system takes effect, importers must submit a quarantine certificate issued by the exporting country's animal quarantine authority for all shipments of beekeeping honey and pollen.

Importers must also demonstrate that the products were either produced in a region free of bee diseases or treated with irradiation at a facility licensed or registered by the exporting country's government.

Products that have not undergone irradiation treatment must pass detailed laboratory testing for bee diseases, including American foulbrood, chalkbrood and sacbrood. Any shipment in which disease pathogens or genetic material are detected will be returned in full or destroyed.

Importers must verify in advance that irradiation treatment was carried out at an approved facility and must submit a quarantine certificate issued before the goods were loaded for shipment.

The agency plans to publish a separate list of approved irradiation treatment facilities.

"Designating beekeeping honey and pollen as quarantine targets is a measure to block bee diseases from entering the country and protect the beekeeping industry," agency chief Choe Jeong-rok said. "We will prepare thoroughly to ensure the new quarantine regime takes hold smoothly."