The Ministry of agriculture of Russia proposes to establish a representative body of the Russian beekeeping on the basis of the National Association of beekeepers and processors of bee products (NAPP), informs "Kommersant".

The proposed structure will assume the function of a single centre for the management and organization of activities of beekeepers. Perhaps organization will be a merger of regional associations of beekeepers and the Association of beekeepers-lovers.

About the reaction of producers of honey on the initiative has not been reported.

According to the agriculture Ministry of the Russian Federation, the volume of manufacture of honey in Russia in 2013 increased by 5% to 68,4 thousand T. the Largest producers of the product are Bashkiria, where was made 5,8 thousand tons of honey, Altai region (4.5 tons) and Tatarstan (4.2 thousand tons). The number of bee colonies in Russia in the Ministry of agriculture is estimated at 3.9 million, of which 96% are in households. The volume of export of Russian honey, according to the Federal customs service, last year doubled to $1.4 million, in real terms it has increased three times - up to 403 tons. The largest importers are the United States, China and Sweden. Import of honey fell by 51%, to $4.1 million in real terms by 62%. The main suppliers of steel Ukraine, Austria and China.

In the end of last year the head of the Rosselkhoznadzor Sergey Dankvert said about the claims of the Agency for the security of the Russian honey. According to him, 30% of samples of Russian honey contain residual amounts of metabolites of nitrofuran - carcinogenic substances arising from inadequate treatment or feeding bees. The office initiated an investigation of the situation.