International Demeter Biodynamic Standards, 2025
6.5.Bee culture and hive products
6.5.1.Principles of Biodynamic Beekeeping Bees have been a part of human culture since the earliest times. The social organisation of the colony, the relationship of bees to light and their ability to live from blossoms is a cause for reverence and admiration. Bee colonies are however dependent on human care today. Strengthening the hives is an important goal of Demeter bee keeping. The extent of their flying range and the current management of agricultural land means that bees cannot be expected to fly solely or predominantly over biodynamically managed areas. What is essential for Demeter Beekeeping is therefore not the direct link to forage grown on the farm as is the case with other livestock, but the way in which bees are kept and how closely this allows them to express their innate behaviour. Beekeepers working in the context of Biodynamics orientate themselves primarily towards meeting the natural requirements of the colony. Management is so structured that the bee is able freely to unfold its true nature. Demeter beekeepers allow the colonies to build natural honeycomb. The basis for their reproduction, growth, rejuvenation and breeding is the process of swarming. Its own honey is the mainstay for supporting the colony through the winter.
Due to their activities as pollinators and as carriers of bee poison which has such a stimulating effect on the life of plants and of nature, bees are of great importance to the whole web of life. The beneficial effects of having bees in the cultivated landscape can be experienced in the increased yield and quality of many farmed crops. Their presence is therefore very important and the keeping of bees is recommended for every Biodynamic holding.
6.5.2.Bee Management
6.5.2.1.Location of apiaries Biodynamically and organically managed land or uncultivated and wild areas should be selected as preferred sites for setting up beehives. If the location of the apiaries is not on Demeter certified land, the spray preparations have to be applied to the immediate surroundings. This applies to all sites that are used for more than three months. Only so many beehives may be established at a given site as can assure each colony an adequate supply of pollen and nectar. In choosing a site great care must be taken to make sure that environmental pollutants will contaminate the hive produce on the lowest possible level. For procedures concerning potential contamination of bee products please compare to chapter 2.7. Residues.
6.5.2.2.Beehives and combs - permitted and not permitted measures With the exception of fixings, roof coverings and wire meshing, hives must be built entirely of natural materials such as wood, straw or clay.
■ The inside of the hive may only be treated with beeswax and propolis obtained from Demeter beekeepers.
■ Only natural, ecologically safe and non-synthetic wood preservatives may be applied to the hive exterior.
■ The cleaning and disinfection of hives may only be undertaken using heat (flame or hot water) or mechanically. The comb is integral to the beehive. Therefore, all combs should be constructed as natural combs. Natural combs are those constructed by the bees without the help of waxed midribs. Natural combs can be constructed on fixed or movable frames.
Strips of beeswax foundation to guide comb building are permitted. The brood area naturally enough forms a self-contained unity. Both comb and brood area must be able to grow as the bee colony develops through building more natural comb. The brood chamber and frame size must be so chosen that the brood area can expand organically with the combs and without being obstructed by wood from the frames.
■ A restriction of the movement of the bee queen is not permitted, queen excluders can only be used during the conversion period. After conversion only in well justified, exceptional cases based on an exemption. The respective certifying organisation has to specify conditions for approving exemptions. (APP 21: see Appendix 6)
■ Only in the supers may waxen midribs be used. It is nonetheless desirable to avoid their use here too.
■ Paraffin wax, carnauba wax and any other kind of way are not allowed
■ Wax used for guiding strips or midribs must be natural comb or capping wax and sourced from Demeter beekeepers. When unavailability is proven, comb or wax from organic certified sources may be used. A bee colony should be able to correct any occurring imbalances out of its own resources. Measures taken by the Demeter beekeeper should aim to reinforce and maintain its vitality and capacity for self-regeneration. The occasional loss of colonies particularly susceptible to certain pests and diseases should be accepted as a necessary part of natural selection.
■ Permitted measures and inputs for the control of parasite or pest pressure are:
Warmth treatment - Brood removal Herbal teas, – Formic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, – Non-transgenic bacillus thuringiensis, – Sodium carbonate for disinfecting of ‘American Foul Brood’ – Absconding – complete separation of the colonies from the honeycomb and the brood (to build up a new unencumbered comb) – Queen caging and queen banning – Icing sugar or powdered starch to powder the bees – Salt
6.5.2.3.Reproduction – permitted and not permitted measures
Swarming is the natural way to increase the number of bee colonies and is the only permitted means for increasing colony numbers.
■ Pre-empting swarming by creating an artificial swarm with the old queen is allowed. For the further increase the remainder of the hive can be divided into secondary pre-empting swarms or scions.
■ As with all forms of livestock management some selective breeding is necessary. The production of queen cells is part of the swarming instinct. For selective breeding activity and in the event of pest control the exchange of the old queen is allowed provided that the new queen originates from the swarming process.
■ Multiple and routine uniting of colonies as well as systematic queen replacement is not permitted.
■ In the case of africanised bees, due to their marked tendency to swarm, artificial division of the swarms is not allowed. The procedure to increase or replace swarms should be carried out by “invitation boxes”.
■ Artificial queen breeding (grafting etc.) is prohibited. Instrumental insemination and the use of genetically modified bees are prohibited.
■ Clipping the wings of queens is prohibited. A locally adapted breed of bee suited to the landscape should be chosen. The system of management cannot rely on the continual introduction of colonies, swarms and queens from elsewhere. Any bees or queens purchased must wherever possible stem from Demeter beekeepers. If these are not available, they may be sourced from organically certified beekeepers. Colonies of non-organic origin are not permitted. The integration of natural – naked swarms is permitted.
6.5.2.4.Feeding Honey and blossom pollen are the natural foods for bees.
During periods when permanent feeding on nectar is not possible due to the vegetation phase, the aim should be to feed them with own honey. Where this is not possible a suitable proportion of honey must be added to the supplementary feed in order to achieve a rapid inversion of the feed. As an orientation 10 % honey (by weight to the sugar) is an appropriate quantity. Depending on the climatic conditions and the respective vegetation phase, national certification organisations may request higher amounts of honey. In the event of significant lower amounts, like for example in the case of lactic fermented feed, the reasoning has to be substantiated in the inspection.
■ Camomile tea and salt are also to be added to the supplementary feed.
If emergency feeding is required later in the season and before the last harvest of the year, only Demeter honey should be used. The use of sugar is not allowed in such rations.
■ In order to build up the strength of swarming bees and those remaining behind, feeding may be carried out as described above for supplementary feed.
■ All pollen substitutes are forbidden.
■ No form of stimulative feeding is permitted. 6.5.3.Processing and packaging
6.5.3.1.Principles of processing As a rule the annual harvest should be filled immediately after extraction into the jars which it is to be sold in, before any solidification occurs. Since subsequent refilling, repeated warming and longer storage periods effect significantly the quality of the honey, it should be avoided whenever possible. In the event that yields of particular kinds of honey exceed the average amount sold during a year, honey may be stored in larger containers and transferred later into jars for retail.
6.5.3.2.Processing – permitted and non-permitted measures During the extraction, pressing, sieving,
purifying and subsequent bottling of the honey, temperatures must not exceed 35°C (indirect heat).
■ Also, for the downstream decanting of the honey after storage, the temperature must not be higher than 35°C (indirect heat). Under no circumstances may the honey be liquidised.
■ Pressurised filtration is not permitted.
■ The water content (measured according to DIN/AOAC) may not exceed 18% in temperate climate and 20 % under humid climatic conditions and for heather honey 21.4%.
■ The HMF content (measured according to Winkler) may not exceed 10 mg/kg.
■ The Invertase level (measured according to Hadorn) must be at least 10 (except honeys with a low content of enzymes like honey from acacia).
■ Wax must not come into contact with solvents, thinners, bleaching agents or other similar materials. Equipment and containers used must be made of non-oxidising materials or with non-oxidising coating.
6.5.4.Packaging
■ Honey must be stored under airtight, dark conditions at a steady cool temperature.
■ Permitted materials for storage, transportation and retail are glass, metal, stoneware, food grade clay and porcelain.
■ Plastic containers are not permitted, neither for storage and transportation nor for retail. All labelling requirements for bee products are to be detailed in the labelling section of this Standard (see sections 4.1 and 4.5.1).
6.5.5.Conversion
The requirements concerning a conversion plan according to chapter 6.4.1. Conversion plan apply.
■ "In conversion to Demeter" status may be granted if the requirements of this Standard have been met for at least 12 months.
■ In the first year of conversion, the wax in the combs must be analysed with regard to undesirable contaminants from the prior non-organic management. In the event that thresholds are exceeded, wax has to be removed and replaced by wax of biodynamic origin, if unavailable of organic origin.
■ A conversion period applies in all cases, especially if the beekeeping is established only with the beginning of certification.
■ Standard conversion period for full certification it three years, in the event of prior organic management of at least three years, the respective certifying organisation can shorten the conversion period.
■ A gradual conversion of apiaries with more than one site is possible, when the conversion plan contains a correspondingly compelling separation protocol. The separation protocol must cover the sites including the migratory plan as well as storage and processing. Hives with a different certification status within a site are not permitted. Conversion period has to be ended after five years at the latest.
During the conversion period
■ Partitioned brood chambers
■ Queen excluders and
■ Existing brood chamber combs made with waxen midribs (at least 1/3 replaced with natural comb after every conversion year) may be used when documented in the conversion plan accordingly.
6.5.6.Certification
Residues and flow of goods Professional and commercial bee keeping follows the principle of the conversion of the farm as a whole, parallel production of biodynamic and organic honey is not possible, neither on a Demeter farm nor as a stand-alone business. Non-organic bee keeping for self-consumption on a Demeter farm is possible. Bee keeping for commercial purposes on a Demeter farm has to be at least certified organic. In cases where an organic certification of honey is not possible due to national regulations and circumstances, this regulation does not apply. In the event of bee management on the area of a biodynamic farm under responsibility of a third party (guest bee keeping), the requirement of at least organic certification does not apply. The respective certifying organisation can request written agreements to specify such arrangements. The respective certifying organisation has to ensure that in these cases preference is given to biodynamic beekeepers, if those exist.
■ For the certification chapter 2.6. Certification applies.
■ For the identification of beehives, documentation of seasonal hive movements, the storage of honey, separation and product flow chapter 2.6.4. Documentation, separation, storage and product flow and the procedural requirements of the respective certifying organisation apply. The location of apiary sites (permanent, over wintering and temporary) must be accurately recorded. Seasonal hive movements must be recorded as part of a migratory plan. Minimal requirements for a migratory plan are unique identification of the bee colonies, description of the respective forages and periods of stay. Concerning residues in the beehives and the respective chapter 2.7. Residues as well as the respective certifying organisation and the legal organic basis give a ruling.