Romania's beekeeping sector is going through difficult times, especially after a 2025 marked by massive losses of bee colonies and a significant drop in honey production, said Razvan Coman, president of the Romanian Beekeepers' Association (ACA).
"Beekeeping is going through difficult times. As a result, at the initiative of the association and others, there are currently four legislative proposals in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies concerning support measures, taxation and VAT related to the beekeeping sector. The idea is that we must raise awareness at all levels among decision-makers so that we can move forward and receive that support. Beekeepers do not like to ask for help, but such support is needed in times of crisis like those we have faced in recent years," Razvan Coman said at the National Honey Fair.
The ACA head added that many young beekeepers have given up the activity because it is no longer profitable, while those who continue to practise it do so mainly out of passion, noting that bees "cannot be treated like any other animal kept in a barn".
According to him, at the beginning of last year there were about 1.5 million bee colonies, but by the end of spring their number had dropped to around 1.2 million.
For his part, the head of the Ilfov County and Bucharest branch of ACA, Marian Patrascu, said the sector needs support, especially after an extremely difficult 2025 for beekeepers and in the context of the EU-Mercosur agreement, which he believes will have a significant impact on Romanian beekeeping.
"We beekeepers have a saying: the bee never disappoints. Even if last year and previous years did not bring enough acacia honey, we hope that this year, after this long winter, will be a good beekeeping year. We also hope the authorities will not disappoint us, because beekeeping has been forgotten for many years. We receive no support and assistance is needed, as we have noticed that bee populations are shrinking and the number of beekeepers as well. Why? Because there are known problems that are nevertheless pushed aside. We must prepare for a good year both for beekeepers and for bees. The Agriculture Ministry should also pay attention because Mercosur has been approved and we hope it will not create problems. We have quality honey, and honey is a food product, so we hope we will not be forgotten," he said.
Residents of Bucharest are invited from Friday to Sunday to attend the spring edition of the National Honey Fair, organised by the Romanian Beekeepers' Association (ACA) at the platform of the Research and Development Institute for Apiculture in Baneasa.
More than 100 exhibitors - beekeepers and specialised companies - will present a wide range of products, from raw hive products to processed bee products and derivatives such as nutritional supplements and cosmetics. The fair will also feature products for beekeepers, including hives and components, machinery and other beekeeping equipment, products for bee health, nutrition products and specialised books.
Romania ranks second in Europe in terms of the number of bee colonies, after Spain, with a total of 2.395 million, and third in honey production.
At national level there are more than 35,000 to 37,000 registered beekeepers, around 50% of whom are ACA members, owning over 60% of Romania's bee colonies.
According to ACA, honey consumption in Romania has declined in recent years, standing at between 600 and 750 grams per person annually, although official statistics indicate annual consumption of about one kilogram.
The National Honey Fair is organised by the Romanian Beekeepers' Association together with the Veceslav Harnaj Beekeeping Complex and the Research and Development Institute for Apiculture.
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