Important Information

 

• Beekeepers must follow all permit conditions – penalties apply across all jurisdictions.
• Strictly no movements are permitted out of any of the NSW Surveillance (PURPLE) or Eradication (RED) Emergency Zones.
• Each state or territory has their own requirements for the movement of bees, bee products and beekeeping equipment.
• All beekeepers must understand their obligations ensuring they hold the correct permits and documentation prior to conducting any interstate movements.  

Movements Into/Through NSW Blue Zone

Requirement: [DECLARATION]

To move hives into and/or through the NSW BLUE zone view information on the NSW DPI website:

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/emergencies/biosecurity/current-situation/varroa-mite-emergency-response/movement-of-bees

• Complete the Tocal College Varroa mite online training
• Complete alcohol washing requirements
• Complete Movement Declaration form PRIOR to moving hives
• Transport in a bee-proof manner
• Strictly no movements are permitted out of any of the NSW Surveillance (PURPLE) or Eradication (RED) Emergency Zones.  

 

 

Movements Into QLD

Requirement: [PERMIT]

Queensland is a varroa mite biosecurity zone:

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/biosecurity/plants/moving/restrictions/zones

Beekeepers must hold a Biosecurity Instrument Permit issued by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to move the following into Queensland from states or territories where varroa mite has been found:

• bees (including queens)
• beehives
• used beekeeping equipment
• bee products (including unprocessed honey).

Hives must be inspected and found free of varroa mite (Varroa destructor) within 14 days prior to the movement into Qld, via the following method:

• for less than 64 hives – alcohol wash test all hives, or
• for more than 64 hives but less than 640 hives – alcohol wash test 64 hives, or
• for more than 640 hives – alcohol wash test 10% of hives.

Applications from any other varroa mite eradication emergency zones or surveillance emergency zones will not be accepted at this time.

Apply for a Biosecurity Instrument Permit via the Queensland DAF website:

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/animal/industries/bees/move

In addition to Queensland’s permit conditions, you must follow movement control requirements in the states or territories that you are moving from and transiting through.

Beekeepers can move bees, beehives, used beekeeping equipment or bee products (including unprocessed honey) into Queensland from other states or territories that are declared free from varroa mite, provided the hives are quarantine secured. Quarantine Secure means transported in a manner that prevents ingress (entry) or egress (escape) of European honey bees (Apis mellifera; bees).

Beekeepers should also ensure their record-keeping is up to date so that all bee movements can be traced in the event of a bee pest or disease outbreak. A movement record can be kept in any format – manual hardcopy, spreadsheet, beekeeping software or mobile app. Regardless of the system, as long as it includes information to help trace the source of a bee pest or disease response in Queensland.      

 

Movements into SA

Requirement: [SOME PROHIBITTED]

No movements are permitted from any NSW RED or PURPLE Emergency Zones.

NSW BLUE zone, VIC & QLD

Requirement: [PERMIT] & Form 3 Health Certificate

To move honeybee colonies, apiary products, beekeeping equipment, hive components, shipping containers with apiary products and vehicles used in apiaries from QLD, VIC and NSW Blue Zone, a permit application must be completed and approved by PIRSA as well as an appropriately completed Form 3 Health Certificate.

 For movement of honeybee colonies into South Australia, beekeepers must complete the following pre-entry requirements:

• bee colonies must tested and be free from Varroa destructor – see below*
• bee colonies must not have been located in a NSW RED or PURPLE zone
• approved SA permit
• Form 3 Health Certificate
• Supporting apiary records including Tocal Varroa Mite Completion Certificate(within last 12mths)

*Pre-entry testing requirements include:

• For less than 64 hives – alcohol wash all hives; OR
• For more than 65 hives but less than 640 hives – alcohol wash 65 hives;
• For more than 640 hives – alcohol wash of 10% of hives
• have completed testing no more than 28 and no less than 6 days prior to entry

Into SA From VIC & QLD – Queen bees Only

Requirement: [PERMIT] & Form 3 Health Certificate

Beekeepers can apply to move queen bees only from VIC and QLD into SA through a specific permit under strict conditions. Review the PIRSA website for the most up to date details.

South Australian Permit details and forms are different for each state and can be found on the PIRSA website:

https://www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/animal_health/animal_species/bees/moving_bees_and_bee_products#restrictions

  

Movements Into VIC

 

Requirement: [PERMIT] & Hive Health Certificate

Existing movement restrictions are still in place in Victoria and due to the Varroa mite incursion in NSW, additional permit requirements have been put in place to move hives into Victoria. Before applying for a permit, beekeepers should ensure they understand, and are able to fulfil specified permit conditions, including specific:

• training,
• hive testing and
• traceability requirements and
• select the application form/s which apply to their registration state.

Further details are on the Victorian website:

https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/pest-insects-and-mites/priority-pest-insects-and-mites/varroa-mite-of-honey-bees/beekeeper-permits

Applicants need to meet alcohol washing requirements for entering Victoria:

• For less than 64 hives – alcohol wash all hives; OR
• For more than 65 hives but less than 640 hives – alcohol wash 64 hives; OR
• For more than 640 hives – alcohol wash of 10% of hives

Applicants need to be able to demonstrate an ability to manage hives by load as listed on the permit. This means running the hives listed on the permit as a distinct sub-unit

Permit holders have an ongoing responsibility to ensure their hives have not spent any time since January 1 2021 in any area of NSW currently declared a Varroa mite eradication emergency (red) zone (EEZ) or Varroa mite surveillance emergency (purple) zone (SEZ).

Permit holders must secure and cover loads of hives described on the permit during transit.

In addition to the permit application process, a Hive Health Certificate must also be supplied to Agriculture Victoria. Across Victoria, Apiary Officers will be conducting compliance activities and surveillance work to ensure permit conditions are being met.

 

Movements Into ACT

Requirement: [PROHIBITTED]

 

No movements are permitted from any other state or territory into ACT.

State Contacts

QLD:  info@daf.qld.gov.au    or  13 25 23

 

NSW: varroa.response@emergency.dpi.nsw.gov.au    or  1800 084 881  

VIC: honeybee.permits@agriculture.vic.gov.au    or  13 61 86

SA:  pirsa.beebiosecurity@sa.gov.au    or    1800 084 881

 

ACT: bees@act.gov.au          or       1800 084 881

 

 

You can reach out to AHBIC via:

Varroa Coordinator

Bianca Giggins

bianca@honeybee.org.au

0402 467 780