AHBIC Industry Update 55 – 594 days of response
6 February 2024National Management Group The National Management Group is scheduled to meet this Friday 9th February, we are hopeful the parties will reach consensus on the Response Plan Version 4. We […]
National Management Group
The National Management Group is scheduled to meet this Friday 9th February, we are hopeful the parties will reach consensus on the Response Plan Version 4. We understand the urgency of the meeting and AHBIC is looking forward to the response plan being adopted and the included activities commencing swiftly.
Updated Control Order NSW
NSW DPI have made significant changes and implemented a new Varroa Control Order (No.2). The adjustments to the Control Order followed from improved industry consultation with both NSWAA and AHBIC. Summary of the main components are below. AHBIC have also been in discussions with NSW DPI regarding the NSW department varroa webpage and the movement declaration form as they do not match entirely with the new Control Order, we understand that the DPI team are working through all necessary adjustments.
As we move to management, we will see less regulation under the control order but under the NSW Biosecurity Act and the industry Code of Practice it is still a requirement to maintain good biosecurity practices, including monitoring for pests and diseases.
To learn more about alcohol washing check out the nationally agreed resource Bee Pest Blitz: https://www.planthealthaustralia.com.au/beepestblitz/
Surveillance: All NSW
Mandatory hive monitoring and reporting for varroa every 16 weeks remains in place across all of NSW.
By regularly monitoring of hives, at minimum every 16 weeks, for presence of varroa through alcohol/soapy water washing/sugar rolling and reporting results together beekeepers can reduce the impacts of varroa across the landscape.
Movement Declaration
Management Control Zone – YELLOW – If moving out of the zone beekeepers must perform surveillance of hives 14 days prior to movement, report, treat if at threshold and complete a movement declaration prior to the intended movement. This only applies if the movement is to an area outside the YELLOW zone.
Suppression Control Zone – GREEN – No movement declarations are required for movements in the Green zone of NSW
Treatments
Treatment is mandated if monitoring determines a hive or hives in an apiary are at threshold. The order states treatment thresholds, determined by seasonal intervals:
| Column 1
Period |
Column 2
Number of Varroa mites detected in a hive |
| 1 December – last day of February in the following year |
9 |
| 1 March – 30 November each year |
5 |
APVMA Chemical Treatment Permits
Importantly beekeepers should note that the APVMA emergency use permits and registered products for varroa control remain active and continue to apply until their individual dates expire, they operate regardless of the change to the NSW Control Order.
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
AHBIC 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 of our AHBIC treatment table 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.