Antibiotics are sold in Georgia for the treatment of bees, which are banned by the European Union, which is why Georgian honey cannot enter the European market.
For two years now, the European Union has added Georgia to the list of countries from which honey imports are allowed. Despite this, Georgian honey is not allowed in the European bazaar. The reason is antibiotics. As it turned out, antibiotics “NOMEZAT” and “NOZEMACID”, which are banned by the European Union, are allowed in Georgia.
The fact that Georgian honey is contaminated with prohibited antibiotics has already been confirmed by the National Food Agency and other private companies.
The state responded late and partially to this. According to the order of the Georgian government from January 1, 2019, registration of veterinary drugs that are banned by the European Union, including the antibiotics “NOMEZAT” and “NOZEMACID”, which are intended for the treatment of bees from NOZEMA DISEASE, will be banned in Georgia.
Although, as it became known, the government is not going to limit the antibiotics that have already been brought into Georgia, explaining that to the protection of business interests. Therefore, all the responsibility on beekeepers, they will use illegal antibiotics or not.
Some beekeepers answered questions on this topic. They say that for the second year they are trying to export honey to the European market, but despite interest, due to the contamination of honey with antibiotics, they have nothing.
Last year, some companies bought about 7-15 tons of honey, which were easily sold on the domestic market, and this year they decided to export and faced many obstacles. Most of the honey is contaminated with antibiotics. During the honey collection, we took 33 samples and in more than 50 percent the honey was contaminated. Import of contaminated honey with antibiotics is prohibited by the European Union. These are different antibiotics that harm a person, kill blood cells and cause cancer.
According to experts, the way out of this situation is to increase the knowledge and responsibility of beekeepers. Cheap biologics are available on the Georgian market, which are safe, but their use requires adherence to a number of strict procedures, so beekeepers prefer to use antibiotics.
Only complex solutions at the correct level, and only increasing the knowledge of the beekeepers themselves will help find quick solutions to the current situation. All beekeepers should be aware that during treatment prohibited antibiotics cannot be used, especially if there is an alternative – biological products that do not pollute honey and are safe for humans. Along with this, the purchase of antibiotics should be available only in veterinary pharmacies with appropriate advice.