Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

The Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU is working on draft Laws No. 5274 “On the development of the beekeeping industry, protection and preservation of bees” and an alternative to it — No. 5274-1.

What do the draft Laws No. 5274 and No. 5274-1 propose?
Draft Law No. 5274 proposes a range of measures, among which — the creation of a new institution — a central executive body that will run state policy in the field of beekeeping. The initiators of the draft law are convinced that the creation of such a body is due to the need for comprehensive development of the industry, as well as the fact that it involves more than 2 million Ukrainians and this industry is export-oriented. This central executive body should be coordinated by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, — the draft suggests.

Draft law No. 5274 also offers to:
-    Create a State Trust Fund to protect bees and stimulate the development of the industry.
-    Define the mechanism of creation and functioning of apiaries.
-    Define the rights and responsibilities of beekeepers.
-    Introduce the Unified Register of Apiaries of Ukraine for accounting, planning and management.
-    Propose a mechanism for registration of the apiary, issuance of the Apiary Passport and Certificate of registration of the apiary.
-    Provide for the development and implementation of the National Program for the Protection and Preservation of Bees.
-    Introduce regulations on protection of bees from the harmful effects of pesticides and agrochemicals.
-    Propose a mechanism and procedure for informing beekeepers about the use of pesticides and agrochemicals, determine the procedure for investigation in case of mass poisoning and mass death of bees.
-    Introduce an electronic system of early notification of the use of plant protection products and the State electronic register of pesticides and agrochemicals with access to beekeepers.
-    Provide support for education for the industry and science for the innovative development of beekeeping.
The draft Law also stipulates liability for violations of beekeeping legislation.

Draft Law No. 275274-1 proposes:
-    to detail the funding of the beekeeping industry and to specify the directions of state support;
-    to improve the guarantees of the rights of beekeepers;
-    to record and specify measures for the protection and conservation of bees;
-    to provide for controlled bee pollination in accordance with scientific recommendations;
-    to regulate and facilitate the work of nomadic apiaries;
-    to expand and clearly specify the issues related to the protection of bees, prevention of bee poisoning, notification of beekeepers about the treatment of plants with plant protection products;
-    to expand the range of the responsibility for the violations in the field of beekeeping;
-    to list boarding as an element of the cultural heritage of Ukraine;
-    to expand educational and scientific support of the beekeeping industry.

Ukraine is among the world leaders in the production and export of honey. Last year, our country set a record for the sale of honey — more than 80 thousand tons were exported. At the same time, according to the authors of both draft laws, the Law of Ukraine «On Beekeeping», which currently regulates this area, needs to be revised, finalized and updated to create appropriate legal conditions for beekeeping and, most importantly, protection of bees. The problem of disappearance of pollinators because of uncontrolled use of pesticides and agrochemicals leads to mass poisoning of bees and their death. The disappearance of pollinators — ecologists warn —will lead to the extinction of many species, change of ecosystems and could be a real disaster for the planet.