A Study on the Implementation of HACCP System Categories in the Honeybee Industry with Case Studies of Australian B-QUAL and Canadian CBISQT

Table 1 describes the certification process and post-certification maintenance of the Australian B-QUAL certification system. The managing authority for the B-QUAL certification process is B-QUAL Australia Pty Ltd. The certification process involves completion of the B-QUAL training program, followed by an application for certification, which includes payment of the assessment fee and annual membership fee. This is followed by a certification assessment conducted by an auditor. If all standard requirements are met, a certificate is issued.

Table 1.

Main elements of the Australian B-QUAL certification process

For post-certification maintenance (annual audit), annual or biennial on-site visits are conducted to monitor compliance with the approved QA system. Biennial visits are applicable only for beekeepers with a flawless audit result in the previous year who sell honey directly to packers (excluding consumer sales). Audits are performed by auditors contracted through B-QUAL Australia Pty Ltd. and national service providers. In cases of non-compliance, continued visits are made to provide necessary guidance, and additional fees are applied as required.

As shown in Fig. 1, the B-QUAL certification system encompasses key quality assurance standards aimed at ensuring the safety and quality of honey production.

Fig. 1.

B-QUAL Quality Assurance Standards.

Chemical Standards require maintaining records for all antibiotics and chemicals used, along with tracking and recording treated colonies. Biological Standards focus on worker hygiene, locating sites away from genetically modified crops, implementing pest control programs, and ensuring safe waste disposal to reduce contamination risks. Physical Standards make sure that hives and equipment are properly maintained to prevent contamination and guarantee safe honey extraction. Under Quality Standards, honey products must meet specific requirements for floral source and purity, and authenticity testing is required for imported honey. Management Standards mandate a HACCP-based food safety program, employee training, facility compliance, equipment maintenance, and careful handling of honey during storage and transportation, while also ensuring inventory control, proper labeling, and traceability. Biosecurity Standards emphasize sourcing bees from certified suppliers, conducting regular inspections, implementing disease control measures, and regulating bee movement. Finally, Professional Activity Standards provide guidelines for pollination, queen bee production, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly production to maintain quality with hygienic practices, proper storage, and careful handling.

The CBISQT Program’s GPPs provide essential guidelines for all stages of honey production and addresses areas from apiary management to finished product packaging, with a strong emphasis on preventing contamination and ensuring safety.

Apiary management guidelines (GPP1) focus on selecting suitable locations, implementing off-hive pest control, and maintaining hive equipment. These practices aim to reduce contamination risks linked to the environment and activities in the apiary. Managing the condition and suitability of inputs arriving at the farm (GPP2) can prevent potential hazards early when receiving feed supplements, hive equipment, farm chemicals, medications, packaging materials, and processing equipment. Visual inspection of inputs at the time of receipt is essential, particularly to ensure correct identification, food-grade specifications, and good condition. Storage practices (GPP3) are crucial in preventing cross-contamination by isolating hive equipment, processing tools, and feed supplements in designated areas. Regular pest control and maintenance of storage conditions are also required to maintain safety. Honeybee health management (GPP4) emphasizes the safe handling and use of feed supplements, medications, and treatments to support hive health while ensuring compliance with food safety standards. Special care is taken in cases where antibiotics or treatments are used. Honey harvesting practices (GPP5) detail safe handling and transportation methods for honey supers so that honey remains uncontaminated from the field to the processing facility. The design and construction of processing facilities (GPP6) should incorporate contamination control measures to address potential sources of biological and chemical hazards in the processing environment. This includes attention to cleanliness and the prevention of airborne contaminants. Guidelines for handling raw honey (GPP7) recommend sanitary methods for all contact surfaces and equipment used in the honey house or processing areas to minimize contamination hazards. Proper management of the environment and procedures in packaging, storage, and shipping ensures that finished honey (GPP8) remains free from contamination. Practices such as filling, sealing, and labeling are carefully managed to prevent risks during farm-based packaging processes. Facility management (GPP9) encompasses maintenance, cleaning, pest control, and waste disposal in the processing environment to mitigate potential contamination risks, with an emphasis on the upkeep of all equipment and areas in contact with honey. Potable water management (GPP10) is also addressed, recognizing that although water is not directly added to raw honey, it plays an indirect role in cleaning and sanitizing containers, tools, and processing surfaces. Safe handling and treatment of water prevent contamination from pathogens and harmful chemicals. Finally, the role of personnel (GPP11) is critical in preventing hazards throughout production. Adequate skills and continuous training in good hygienic practices, such as hand washing, sanitary footwear, and regular equipment cleaning, are emphasized, as these practices help maintain product safety and reduce contamination risks from pathogenic organisms.

(1) Evaluation criteria

• • A barrier facility for access control should be installed at the farm entrance, and information and biosecurity warning signs should be posted on the entry gate.
• • Facilities for disinfecting entrants, vehicles, and supplies should be installed.
• • Visitors to the farm should wear dedicated clothing and footwear, and access to the inside of livestock housing should be restricted to external personnel.
• • An access logbook should be placed at the farm entrance to record entries.
• • Livestock rearing facilities should be installed in accordance with livestock industry licensing standards, and ventilation should be provided to expel harmful gases.
• • Lighting and temperature/humidity monitoring devices should be installed in livestock facilities, and a shoe disinfectant mat should be placed at the entrance.
• • Measures should be in place to prevent animals other than livestock from entering the livestock housing facilities.

(2) References

• • (Domestic Laws) APCAD, Article 17; ER of APCAD, Article 20; BIPSA, Article 5; LIA, Articles 22 and 26; ED of LIA, Article 14-2
• • (CBISQT) GPP 6, Processing Facilities; GPP 11, Personnel
• • (B-Qual) 5.1.3 Facilities; 6.7 Wild Areas

(3) Rationale for implementation

• • To minimize the spread of disease in livestock farms, epidemiological investigations are conducted along with quarantine measures in areas surrounding the affected farms. These investigations include general farm status, biosecurity measures, vehicle access, and visitor logs. In particular, honeybee diseases such as foulbrood can easily spread to entire colonies when infection occurs, causing extensive larval mortality and significant damage to beekeepers (Berenyi et al., 2006). Therefore, biosecurity measures are essential in preventing disease transmission in honeybee farms. In accordance with the APCAD and the BIPSA, entry barriers should be installed at farm entrances, and fencing should be established around the farm perimeter to prevent access by outsiders. Additionally, biosecurity warning signs indicating restricted access and notices outlining entry procedures should be displayed. Disinfection facilities must be installed for people, vehicles, and external materials entering the farm, and a logbook should be kept recording and maintain details of all visitor and vehicle entries. Farms are also required to establish rearing facilities according to the registration standards under the LIA, and lighting as well as temperature and humidity meters must be installed in honey processing facilities.
• • In CBISQT’s GPP 6, honey processing facilities provide guidelines related to the design and construction of typical farm honey processing facilities to prevent potential contamination of raw honey before, during, and after processing seasons. These guidelines address the sources and control procedures for potential biological and chemical hazards in the processing facility environment. Doors and fences should display “No Access” signs to control unauthorized visitors, and all lighting fixtures must be fitted with shatterproof covers. Inspection areas (zones for visual hive checks, box disassembly, manual lid removal, and extraction inspection points) must maintain lighting of at least 540 lux.
• • According to B-QUAL 5.1.3 Facility, proper ventilation, natural light, and artificial lighting should be utilized in processing areas. In 6.7 Wild Area, it is advised to take preventive measures if an area is suspected of disease outbreaks.

(1) Evaluation criteria

• • Facilities and equipment for farm disinfection must be available, and regular disinfection should be carried out. Tools and equipment used on the farm must also be cleaned and disinfected.
• • The farm should conduct regular pest control and ensure proper drainage around the farm.
• • Salmonella spp. testing should be conducted for livestock and rearing facilities.
• • Waste should be separated, stored in designated areas, and regularly processed and removed.
• • Regular hygiene and biosecurity training should be provided to farm workers.
• • Hazardous chemicals should be stored separately in designated areas.

(2) References

• • (Domestic Laws) APCAD, Articles 6, 17, and 51; ER of LIA, Article 30
• • (CBISQT) GPP 1. Beekeeping Yard Management; GPP 6. Processing Facilities; GPP 9. Facility Management; GPP 11. Personnel
• • (B-Qual) 2. Biological Standards; 6.9. Disease Spread Within and Between Beekeeping Yards

(3) Rationale for implementation

• • According to the guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting livestock farms (Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, 2016), high-pressure sprayers should be used to disinfect livestock buildings, and disinfectants should be diluted just before use. While regular Salmonella spp. testing is conducted for cattle, pigs, and poultry, it is challenging to apply the same to bee farms. Therefore, it is necessary to select indicator substances related to hygiene and disease for regular testing.
• • In CBISQT GPP1 Beekeeping Yard Management, contamination from pathogenic bacteria (e.g., spores of Clostridium spp. and Bacillus spp.) can occur due to improper cleaning or sanitation practices with hive equipment. Contamination from chemical residues (e.g., maintenance products, medications) in used hive equipment (including contaminated honey/comb) due to improper disposal is also possible. Therefore, it is necessary to make sure that the equipment used in honey production is properly cleaned and disinfected. Compliance should be confirmed with regular monitoring and visual inspections by trained personnel. GPP 9 Facility Management addresses the proper maintenance and cleaning of processing equipment and facilities, as well as the safe disposal procedures for farm chemicals and waste honey within the facility. GPP 11 covers the implementation of training programs for ongoing education to control or prevent risks related to honey products.
• • In B-QUAL 2. Biological Standards, hive tools should be cleaned before starting work in a new apiary and after use on suspected hives. Honey containers must be cleaned and dried both inside and out. Wastewater, sewage, and trash between buildings should be handled safely and hygienically, with wastewater processed through septic systems or other appropriate methods.

(1) Evaluation criteria

• • The feed must be sourced exclusively from HACCP-certified factories, and all incoming feed materials should undergo rigorous quality inspections, including sensory evaluations, immediately upon receipt to ensure compliance with safety standards. The storage locations and transport tools for the feed should be regularly cleaned and disinfected. If self-manufactured feed is used, specific management standards must be established and strictly followed.
• • Drinking water for animals should come from either a municipal water supply or groundwater that meets the required water quality standards. The watering facilities must be kept clean and disinfected regularly to maintain hygiene and safety.
• • A plan to prevent residues of veterinary medicines and related substances must be developed and implemented. Records of all incoming and outgoing veterinary products should be maintained.
• • Livestock disease prevention measures should be actively carried out. Standards for controlling internal and external parasites must be established and implemented according to a set schedule to maintain the health of the animals.

(2) References

• • (Domestic Laws) ER of LIA, Article 30; GA, Article 20
• • (CBISQT) GPP 2. Receiving Inputs; GPP 4. Livestock Health Management; GPP 10. Potable Water Management
• • (B-Qual) 1. Chemical Standards; 2. Biological Standards; 6.4. Feeding; 6.9. Disease Spread Within and Between Beekeeping Yards

(3) Rationale for implementation

• • Antibiotic residues have been found in all foods intended for human consumption, whether of animal or non-animal origin, raising concerns about the seriousness of antibiotic residues in food and feed (Ghimpețeanu et al., 2022). In the early 2000s, incidents such as the BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) and dioxin crises brought food safety concerns to the forefront in Europe and highlighted the need to strengthen quality programs in livestock feed. As a result, safety management in feed factories, which had previously been operated under GMP standards, was integrated with HACCP to establish a comprehensive quality assurance program that encompasses all feed ingredient suppliers (Johan, 2003). In Korea, the HACCP certification system for assorted feed factories was implemented in 2005 (Choe, 2011), and it is also applied to feed used in honeybee farms.
• • When groundwater is used for making self-produced feed or cleaning equipment in honeybee farms, testing must be conducted every three years for 20 parameters, including pH, coliform counts, and heavy metals, to meet potable water standards.
• • Kang et al. (2010) reported that monitoring results for veterinary drug residues in honey indicated levels below the allowable limit of 0.1 mg/kg. Additionally, recent monitoring by the MFDS on imported honey in 2024 (Food Safety Korea, accessed on October 21, 2024) reported no non-compliance cases related to veterinary drugs. Currently, Korea has established MRL standards for 10 veterinary drugs in honey, including neomycin, streptomycin, and others, and since 2024, the Positive List System (PLS) has been applied to all livestock products. Under this system, a uniform limit of 0.01 ppm is applied to veterinary drugs without specific residue limits. In honeybee farms, the external parasite Varroa destructor has been identified as a major cause of honeybee mortality (Schäfer et al., 2010; Van Dooremalen et al., 2012), and thus, standards for the use of veterinary drugs should be established and implemented for regular pest control.
• • In CBISQT, the purpose of GPP 2 is to provide guidelines to prevent or reduce the risk of contamination of raw honey due to incorrect materials and/or input conditions. This involves blocking potential sources of biological and chemical hazards with a thorough visual inspection of all incoming items and verification of approved veterinary drugs. GPP 4 addresses the risk of contamination of honey, sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), and/or pollen due to unsanitary conditions (e.g., contaminated containers or tools) and contaminated drums, top feeders, and feed containers, which may lead to pathogenic bacterial contamination (e.g., spores of Clostridium spp. and Bacillus spp.). It emphasizes mixing only under hygienic conditions with clean containers and tools and stipulates that approved/registered veterinary drugs and pest control products (e.g., for Varroa spp.) should be used in appropriate doses according to label instructions before and after the season as part of the production cycle. GPP 10 addresses good management practices for potential hazards that may arise when receiving, treating, and distributing potable water in farm operations. While water is not directly added during the processing of raw honey on the farm, potable water is indirectly used for cleaning and sanitizing bulk honey containers, processing tools, equipment, and surfaces in extraction, processing/packing, and storage areas. Untreated or improperly treated water may contain pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria (e.g., C. botulinum, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli), viruses (e.g., Norovirus), and protozoa (e.g., Cryptosporidium parvum), which require careful management.
• • According to 6.4. Feeding in B-QUAL, feed should be purchased only from quality-assured suppliers that operate a biosecurity program, and bee-derived products that have not undergone irradiation should be used. Appropriate measures for disease management should be taken, and treatment details must be recorded. Additionally, in accordance with 2. Chemical Standards section, the purchase of all antibiotics and other chemicals should be documented, and chemical treatment procedures, including records of recommended antibiotics and dosages, must be followed.

(1) Evaluation criteria

• • When introducing livestock, the inspection results for livestock diseases and the usage history of veterinary drugs must be verified, and clinical symptoms should be observed for a designated period of time.
• • Management standards for outgoing livestock (e.g., pre-shipment requirements, compliance at shipment, and handling of non-compliant cases) should be established and followed.
• • After shipment, facilities used for outgoing livestock should be cleaned and disinfected.
• • Traceability management for livestock products must be implemented.

(2) References

• • (Domestic Laws) LPSCA, Article 12-2; LIA, Article 35; ER of LIA, Article 30
• • (CBISQT) GPP 8. Finished Honey; CPP 12. Record control, Traceability and product recall
• • (B-Qual) 5.1.7 Labeling; 6.2 Introduction

(3) Rationale for implementation

• • Before introducing honeybee colonies, their health status should be inspected by a veterinarian or apiculture expert, and the colonies should be quarantined for a certain period to monitor for infectious diseases. Also, it is necessary to review diagnostic reports from the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency or provincial laboratories, as well as verify the origin of the colonies. When purchasing individual queen bees, only new queen cages and related beekeeping equipment should be used for shipping. The queens should be introduced after evaluating their quality, including effective egg-laying capacity, colony size, brood formation rate, reproductive potential, and productivity of various products such as honey and royal jelly. Additionally, before honey products are released, standards for release (e.g., maturation period, food specifications, residue levels) should be established and adhered to. In cases where products do not meet the release standards, methods such as traceability management are required to determine the cause. Honey is graded in accordance with LIA Article 35 (Grading of Livestock Products), and information such as the producer, nectar source, harvesting region, and harvesting period is tracked with traceability management.
• • According to the GPP 8 section in CBISQT, honey must be handled and transported only under safe conditions to prevent contamination by pathogenic bacteria (e.g., spores of Clostridium spp. and Bacillus spp., as well as E. coli and Salmonella spp.). In the GPP 12 section, all relevant records established by the CBISQT program must be maintained and managed for at least 8 years to guarantee safe honey products, facilitate traceability, and enable product recalls if necessary.
• • In B-QUAL 6.2. Introduction, queen bees and hives must be purchased only from B-QUAL-certified suppliers in Australia, and the health status should be evaluated both prior to purchase and upon arrival. Additionally, Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) entry and exit requirements must be followed for imported queen bees. All outgoing products are clearly identified and documented for ownership traceability. According to 5.1.7. Labeling, labels must be affixed according to legal requirements, and appropriate records must be maintained.