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Ministry of Agriculture

Policy on the Movement of Bees

Apiculture Program
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture
BC Honey Producers Association
September 2005

Introduction

The transportation of honeybees is an integral part of the economics of beekeeping but with it, there is an increased risk of disease. Compliance with the regulations of this policy will reduce health risks to the bee population and minimize their economic impact on the industry.

The regulations of this Policy:

  • follow the principle that shipped bees must not pose a health risk to the bee populations of areas through which they pass or go to;
  • are only intended to control and reduce risk of disease; not to restrict economic opportunity;
  • list the import conditions of movement between Bee Districts and Provinces and are applicable to all beekeepers regardless of residency;
  • remain in effect until August 31, 2006.

Amendments to the policy may be applied prior to the expiry date when:

  • there is a change in the disease incidence and health status of a Bee District(s) as determined by inspection, survey and consultation with the BC Honey Producers Association;
  • producer groups and representatives request a change in the regulations, providing the changes satisfy the requirements of the World Trade Organization rules; 
  • the Minister of Agriculture & Lands applies changes.

Regulatory Principles & Guidelines

There are 14 Bee Districts in British Columbia, as described in the Regulations pursuant to the Bee Act.1 District boundaries take into account natural barriers and established beekeeping practices of resident beekeepers in each district.

The regulations of this Policy include the movement of bees, queens and used beehive equipment between districts by specifying the conditions under which bees, queens and used beehive equipment can be imported into a Bee District. The movement of bees, queens and used beehive equipment within a district does not require inspection but remains subject to apiary site approval and registration.

Each district may have its own import conditions according to its disease status, as determined through inspections and annual surveys. For details, please refer to the Importation Conditions of Bee Districts in this document.

Out-of-Province Imports

Large numbers of colonies are imported into BC annually for wintering and/or crop pollination. The importation of honeybee colonies from another province involves three steps:

  1. a mandatory colony inspection for brood diseases and pests prior to shipment;
  2. registered apiary sites in British Columbia prior to shipment;
  3. issuance of an Import Permit by the BC Ministry of Agriculture . Permit issuance is based on the inspection results from the originating district or province and approval of apiary registration in BC.

Reciprocal colony inspection services are offered to beekeepers prior to return to their home province or Bee District in the spring.

Bees and Queens Imported from Outside Canada

Live honeybees and/or queens imported from outside of Canada under federal government permit are not regulated by the BC Ministry of Agriculture , providing the imported bees and/or queens are not hived and managed in another district or province before being shipped to their final destination.

Mandatory Apiary Registration

The BC Bee Act, Section 3, requires the registration of all apiaries, except when sites are used temporarily for crop pollination services and honey crops. The primary purposes of apiary registration are for disease control and assist in the delivery of inspection services. Applications of Apiary Registrations are generally approved unless a disease threat has been identified or the proposed site is deemed unsuitable for bees.

Please note: The beekeeper in whose name the apiary site has been registered, remains solely responsible and legally liable for the colonies and the impact the honeybees may have on other parties.

 

Testing Standards

A. Brood Diseases

As required by the Bee Act (Section 23 & 24) live honeybee colonies or used beehive equipment must be inspected for the presence of brood disease prior to sale and/or movement into a Bee District.

Standard visual inspection is used for the detection of all brood diseases. Ten (10) percent of randomly selected colonies must be examined, up to a maximum of 25 colonies which must be representative of the entire shipment of colonies. Brood comb with visual signs of brood disease must be removed and destroyed prior to winter preparation and shipment.2

B. Varroa Mite (Varroa destructor)

For permit purposes, the following Varroa mite tests are acceptable:
  1. All colonies destined for shipment have Apistan or Checkmite+ strip(s) installed for at least 7 days prior to shipment.
     
  2. Icing Sugar Roll Method: Collect a sample of approximately 300 adult bees (1 cup) from the brood area in a large wide-mouthed jar containing approximately 30 gm (1 oz.) of icing sugar. Close jar and shake gently for about 1 minute. Hold the jar at 45-degree angle and slowly rotate. Adult mites, dislodged from the bees by the icing sugar, stick to the inside surface of the glass jar. Record the number of mites per sample. (Note: This method is quick and easy but not very accurate. It is recommended to apply sampling levels as listed under test method #4 below).
     
  3. Alcohol Wash Method: Collect approximately 300 adult bees (1 cup) from the brood area and place in a container with alcohol. Ethanol, rubbing alcohol (iso-propyl alcohol), or windshield wiper fluid which contains methanol, can be used. Gently shake the container and pour into a wide-mouthed jar covered with wire-mesh that prevents bees from passing through. Count the number of mites in the filtered alcohol solution. This test offers reasonably accurate mite readings when more samples are collected from the apiary.
     
  4. Apistan or coumaphos strip and sticky board 24-hour test: Place a strip in the center of each super and install a sticky board at the bottom of the hive for 24 hours. The number of randomly selected colonies to be tested is determined by apiary size (Table 1.)
Table 1. Testing Levels According to Apiary Size
# Colonies/Apiary # Colonies Tested
1 1
2 1
5 2
10 3
20 5
50 7
100 10
500 30

At the above sampling rates, there is 99% level of confidence in the probability of detecting Varroa mite infestation levels of 1% or higher in the entire bee population of an apiary.

C. Tracheal Mites (Acarapis woodi)

Tracheal mites have been reported in most Bee Districts. The pest is no longer regulated. Testing is still carried out for survey purposes or by producer request for which a fee is charged.3

Parasitic Mite Surveys

BC Ministry of Agriculture reserves the option to survey apiaries for parasitic mites at any reasonable time. These surveys are designed to determine the regional distribution of parasitic mites. The Ministry assumes all costs.

General Shipping Conditions of Bees across Bee Districts

Basic precautionary measures must be taken to prevent bee escape during shipment. While transporting bees, provisions of the BC Motor Vehicle Act, Division 35, apply and the shipment may be subject to inspection.

Recommendations:

  • Use screens or netting on all colonies and used beehive equipment with comb to prevent bee escape or attracting hitchhiking bees.
  • Ship colonies in early evening and through the night.
  • Minimize stops and duration of each stop.
  • Select highway routing through non‑beekeeping areas where possible.
  • Carry a water hose, sprayer and/or bucket for cooling colonies in case of emergency stops.  

 

Importation Conditions of Bee Districts

District boundaries are described as Bee Quarantine Districts by regulation (Reg. 415/90).

‘A’ Districts
  • Powell River Bee District
  • Sunshine Coast Bee District
  • Bulkley‑Nechako/Kitimat‑Stikine Bee District (i.e. North West Bee District)

Status:
  • Varroa and r-AFB have not been detected in these districts.

Conditions:

  • No honeybees may be moved into the district without a permit.
  • Only direct shipments from Australia and Hawaii (but not New Zealand) can be imported under federal permit issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
  • No used comb or used beehive equipment may be moved into the district without a permit.

‘B’ Districts
  • Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands Bee District

Status:

  • r-AFB has not been detected in these districts.

Conditions:

  • No honeybees may be moved into the district without a permit.
  • Only bee shipments from New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii may be imported under CFIA permit.
  • No used comb or used beehive equipment may be moved into the district without a permit.

‘C’ Districts

  • Cariboo Bee District
  • Central Kootenays Bee District
  • Central‑North Okanagan Bee District
  • East Kootenay Bee District
  • Fraser‑Fort George Bee District
  • Fraser Valley Bee District
  • Okanagan‑Similkameen/Kootenay Boundary Bee District
  • Peace River/Fort Nelson Bee District
  • Squamish-Lillooet Bee District
  • Thompson‑Nicola Bee District

Conditions:
  • No honeybees can be moved into a Bee District without a permit.
  • No used comb or used beehive equipment may be moved into the district without a permit.
  • Colonies must be tested for Varroa prior to shipment according to prescribed testing methods.
  • When any colony exceeds the mite levels shown below, all colonies from the same apiary must be treated at least 7 days prior to shipment.
Spring: 20 mites/colony
Fall: 50 mites/colony

 

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1The Bee Act and its Regulations remain in effect while they have been temporarily placed under the Animal Disease Control Act. A consultative review by the BC Ministry of Agriculture and the BC Honey Producers Association will aim towards a new policy framework in reducing the risk of disease.

2Antibiotic-resistant American Foulbrood (r-AFB) has been diagnosed in British Columbia and Alberta. For monitoring purposes, samples from suspect brood cells may be submitted for laboratory analysis at no cost. Collect scale or larval tissue with a toothpick or Q-tip and wrap in plastic film or wax paper and mail to: Apiculture, BC Ministry of Agriculture , 1767 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford, BC, V3G 2M3.

3Testing involves the collection of adult bees from the entire apiary (versus single colonies). Each composite sample includes the random collection of 75 adult bees collected at the entrance(s), where each colony contributes an equal number of bees. This sample offers 95% level of confidence in the probability of detecting mite infestation levels at 5% or higher in the adult bee population of the apiary. Tracheal mite testing is only carried out in early spring and fall when tracheal mites reach detectable levels.