UGANDA -
HONEY TRADE STATUS
Presented by Kangave Alice,
Principal Entomologist and National Expert Honey Production and Marketing

This page summarises information contained in Kangave Alice's presentation to the
Bees for Development Honey Trade Workshop held in Dublin, Ireland in August 2005.

Images © Alice Kangave

You can also download and view Alice Kangave's complete PowerPoint presentation here

Uganda photo gallery
Click on a thumbnail image (below) to select a larger version then browse the Workshop Gallery. Larger images may require time to load over slower connections (56kbps or less)

INTRODUCTION

Beekeeping in Uganda started as honey hunting way back in time. CARE, FAO, IDEA, MAAIF, UNIDO, BfD and CWS played a major role to improve the beekeeping industry.

THE PROCESS OF STANDARDISATION

• The process of Standardisation and Certification of Uganda honey for the EU market started in 1999 when UNIDO decided to assist MAAIF in the process.

• Prof. Helmut Horn from University of Hohenheim Stuttgart Germany was contracted.

• In 1999 a baseline study was conducted

• Honey sample collection from 9 ecological zones of Uganda.

• In 2001, 214 honey samples were harvested directly from the hive and stored in a cooler box from the following districts; Kabale, Rukungiri, Bushenyi, Mbarara, Rakai, Masaka, Kibale, Mubende, Kampala, Mukono, Luwero, Nakasongola, Apac, Lira, Kamuli, Jinja, Kaberamaido, Soroti, Mbale, Tororo, Kumi, Iganga, West Nile, Bwindi and Sembabule.

Map of Uganda showing Districts, Forest and Lakes

The honey analysis was done in Germany and all the determinations were done according to the International standardized methods.

The samples were analyzed for the following;

During the sample collection it was realized that most hives were not colonized so in Sept-Dec 2001, Prof. Helmut trained;

• 78 beekeepers in queen rearing and colony multiplication
• honey packers and processors in honey quality control
• 18 lab technicians in honey analysis

In 2003 another baseline study on quality of honey in 5 regions of Uganda was conducted

• 300 honey samples were collected and analyzed by Prof. Helmut
• 144 honey samples were analyzed by Chemiphar laboratory
• Ring trials between Chemiphar lab and the University of Honhenheim resulted in similar results.

The results gave us the characterization of Uganda honey and were used to revise the Uganda honey standards.

• The formulation of the National Apiculture Policy has been completed and awaiting approval by the cabinet.
• MAAIF developed statutory instruments as a support for the legislature on honey.
• MAAIF coordinated all stake holders to form an umbrella body called the Uganda National Apiculture development Organization (TUNADO)
• TUNADO objective is to bring bee keeper’s associations and other stake holders together to ease coordination and improve the performance of the Apiculture industry.

THE NATIONAL HONEY RESIDUE MONITORING PLAN (NHRMP)

• MAAIF in close collaboration with the stake holders and with assistance from UNBS, UNIDO, UEPB, formulated the NHRMP.
• It is a core requirement for countries importing honey into the EU market to submit NHRMP to the EU commission every year.
• The NHRMP for 2005 in Sept.2004 was submitted in Dec. 2004 to the EU commission.
• This resulted in Uganda being listed among the countries to export honey to the EU market (EU journal commission Decision of 11th March 2005)

KEY ISSUES IN THE NHRMP

INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

• Legislation concerning the use of substances in Annex 1
  (Directive 96/23/EC Article 7.1)
• The legal basis of the Competent Authority
• Infrastructure of the official services
• The Local Authority (Districts)
• Relationship with other agencies (UNBS, TUNADO)
• Institutional framework
• Laboratories
• Level of competence of laboratories
• National tolerance limits for maximum residue limits (MRLs)
• Official Sampling Procedures

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON PRODUCTION

• Type of production
• Production planned to be exported to EU

RESIDUE MONITORING PLAN

• Objectives of the plan
• Groups of residues covered (Annex 1)

FREQUENCIES AND LEVELS OF CONTROLS

TARGETING CRITERIA

• Results from previous years
• Changes based analysis of the residue plan of the previous years.

COMMENTS FROM EU

• Summary of legislation
• The specificity of samples
• Measures taken if there is a positive case
• The details of substances analyzed

OFFICIAL LAUCHING OF HONEY TO THE EU

MAAIF, EU, TUNADO, UNIDO, NAADS, UEPB facilitated the launching on 3rd May 2005.

WAY FORWARD

• Investments - Bee Natural Products
• National Apiculture Strategic Plan
• Apiculture Export Strategy
• Collection Centres
• Districts e.g. Mukono
• Radio messages
• Law enforcement
• Honey Inspectors

Kangave Alice is Principal Entomologist and National Expert Honey Production and Marketing
at the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, P.O BOX 102, Entebbe, Uganda
Tel: +25671273059  Email: akangave@utlonline.co.ug
 

  Download  Alice Kangave's PowerPoint presentation (1.97mb .pps file)