German Beekeepers' Association (Deutscher Imkerbund)
Lexikon
The German Beekeepers' Association is the umbrella organization of German beekeeping.
The German Beekeepers' Association is the umbrella organization of German beekeeping. Under it, the state associations are organized, and under these in turn the district and local associations, in which individual beekeepers are members. Through this chain run training, insurance cover, representation of interests, and access to the trademark for Echter Deutscher Honig (Genuine German Honey).
The association issues the quality guidelines for the beekeeper's honey jar, runs training programs together with the chambers of agriculture, and publishes guides on topics such as combating American foulbrood. For the individual beekeeper, association membership is practically important, because liability and animal disease insurance, as well as the right to use the trademark, are generally tied to it.
The German Beekeepers' Association is not an authority. It cannot issue orders under disease control law; that remains a matter for the veterinary office. In Austria and Switzerland, Biene Österreich and apisuisse together with BienenSchweiz take on comparable tasks respectively.