"World Bee Day has resulted in a sea of change in Slovenia and the world ... but celebrations and photo shoots will not save bees," Boštjan Noč, the head of the Slovenian Beekeepers' Association, told the press on Tuesday.

The association has long argued bees should be classified among endangered species, with Noč stressing the animals cannot survive without human help.

But in order for humans to help, the state needs to change some rules, according to Noč, who listed mandatory country of origin labels on honey, the fight against fake honey, and lower taxes for medicines for bees as some of the measures that would help.

The United Nations has declared 20 May World Bee Day at Slovenia's initiative. Celebrations in Slovenia have already started with a series of events that will culminate in Ravne na Koroškem on Saturday.

"The purpose is not to celebrate, it is to raise awareness about the importance of bees," said Peter Kozmus, the vice-president of Apimondia, an international beekeeping organisation.