South Korea adopts ‘Act on supports for beekeeping sector’
On the 27th of August 2019, South Korea enacted a new law called ‘Act on supports for beekeeping sector’. The new law is the result of one year of research by the government, beekeepers, NGOs and researchers, including public hearing and discussions among stakeholders. The act will be effectuated on the 28th of August 2020. In addition, the secretariat is currently in contact with South Korea which is considering a membership of Promote Pollinators as the first member country in Asia.
What are the commitments of the new law?
The ‘Act on supports for beekeeping sector’ comprises of the following:
- The Korean ministry of agriculture (MAFRA) should establish a comprehensive plan every 5 years for sustainable development of beekeeping industry and to promote pollinators.
- MAFRA should conduct a factual survey on the sector for efficient establishment of the plan.
- The government (central or regional) should appoint and support institutes to educate/train professional manpower regarding beekeeping and pollinators.
- Rural Development Administration, the national agricultural research and extension service, should work on improving honey bee species.
- The government should support the development of relevant technology.
- The government should endeavor for planting honey plants, and can finance relevant projects.
- The government should figure out international trends and promote international cooperation, and can conduct international projects such as personal exchange and research cooperation.
- The government can subsidize beekeepers’ projects, and beekeepers should be registered to regional governments.
Special attention for Promote Pollinators during thematic workshop on beekeeping
After the law was enacted, the Korean national assembly (parliament) organized a workshop titled “promoting the beekeeping sector based on public utility functions of forest resources”. The Agriculture team of the ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Dutch embassy in Seoul was one of two presenters during the workshop, which took place on the 30th of October 2019. The Agriculture team took the opportunity to present the Dutch Pollinator Strategy and introduce Promote Pollinators, the Coalition of the Willing on Pollinators. South Korea is interested in joining Promote Pollinators as the first member country in Asia. We are now actively keeping in touch for cooperation.