Risk of disseminating apiary diseases by international movements of bees and their products

The evaluation of the risks of spreading bee diseases is based on information obtained from a wide variety of sources: reports of the world distribution of pathogenic agents; trade flow in bees and bee products; and observations and experimental data on the diseases. At present, this information is severely lacking and only enables a brief outline of trends to be made. Current data are inadequate to prevent the spread of diseases from one country to another. To improve this situation, it is important that exporting countries establish epidemiological and health surveillance practices based on harmonised procedures and diagnostic tests. In addition, the products of apiculture should be given a permanent, specific nomenclature, drawn up by the World Trade Organisation.