Propolis collection is the harvesting of the resinous compound that bees deposit throughout the hive, carried out by scraping or using mesh traps that encourage deposition, with the raw material then cleaned of wax and debris for sale.
In trade practice
Mesh or screen traps placed inside the hive yield cleaner propolis than scraping, reducing the wax and wood-fragment content that buyers penalise. Suppliers should provide documentation of botanical origin and region, as flavonoid profiles differ by flora and matter to buyers in the food supplement sector. Wax content and the presence of contaminants such as heavy metals are typically tested by an accredited laboratory before export.
In a specification
A propolis specification should define minimum resin content, maximum wax content, acceptable collection method and required documentation of geographic and botanical origin.