AHBIC Industry Update 54 – 590 days of response
2 February 2024Control Order NSW The new Control Order 2024 has gone live, effective from 1st February 2024. Disappointingly neither AHBIC nor NSWAA was afforded the opportunity to provide feedback on the control […]
Control Order NSW
The new Control Order 2024 has gone live, effective from 1st February 2024. Disappointingly neither AHBIC nor NSWAA was afforded the opportunity to provide feedback on the control order prior to it being published. We have identified and understand the significant concerns beekeepers have with the order and we are providing feedback into the IMT demanding them to amend the order as soon as possible. We have requested that they improve consultation with industry moving forward on any significant changes in the response.
Response Activities NSW
In NSW the DPI is responsible for communications to all registered NSW beekeepers, make sure your details are up to date for information on upcoming community meetings and expressions of interest for training events.
In NSW the varroa heat map continues to provide an overview of the DPI confirmed spread of varroa in NSW. Recent additions have been made to the heat map with infested premises now showing presence further south of Sydney, Katoomba, Scone and to the west of Orange in the Central West NSW.
DPI are no longer supplying miticide strips to beekeepers. For a list of suppliers of APVMA approved treatments check the permits below. (AHBIC understands not all listed suppliers will have stock of the treatment products.)
Formic Pro/Bayvarol strips/Apistan: https://permits.apvma.gov.au/PER94055.PDF
Apivar/Apitraz: https://permits.apvma.gov.au/PER94153.PDF
Response Activities VIC
No Varroa mite has been detected in Victoria. The DECCA Apiary Team are undertaking additional surveillance via sentinel hives and swarm catch boxes along their border with NSW and in the Sunraysia region in VIC. Victorian Control Area Order remains in place, preventing movement of bees and bee products across the border from any state or territory without a permit. VIC beekeepers are reminded that queen bees from NSW are NOT permitted entry into VIC. And surveillance requirements for Varroa mite are still in place for all Victorian beekeepers.
Slowing the Spread
AHBIC encourages all beekeepers across Australia to be vigilant in continuing to take an active role in slowing the spread by regularly monitoring hives for presence of varroa through alcohol/soapy water washing/sugar rolling, reporting results and undertaking approved treatment intervention if at threshold.
To learn more about alcohol washing check out the nationally agreed resource: https://www.planthealthaustralia.com.au/beepestblitz/
Chemical Treatment Table
The chemical treatment table will continue to be updated on our website please refer to the most up to date version regularly via https://honeybee.org.au/ahbic-varroa-treatment-table/ The most recent version is dated 2nd February 2024.
You can reach out to AHBIC via:
Varroa Coordinator
Bianca Giggins
0402 467 780
AHBIC, its employees, executive and consultants expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person in respect of anything, and the consequences of anything, done or omitted to be done in reliance, whether wholly, partly, upon the whole or any part of the contents of this industry update document.