News — Australian Honey Bee Industry Council

Concern has been expressed over several years now about the importation of beeswax, both as foundation or block, into Australia.

AHBIC has written to the Federal Department of Agriculture about these concerns and received a response. The Department advised that as beeswax is not a food then they cannot regulate the importation or even check that it is beeswax. It is now up to the beekeeping industry to start a campaign to ask beekeepers and the public not to buy or use any imported beeswax, particularly beeswax foundation.

In the past AHBIC has had beeswax tested from China and there have also been other people who have had beeswax analysed. The results are that this imported beeswax contained several chemicals that were probably introduced during Varroa mite controls and are not permitted in beeswax in Australia. Disturbingly the results also showed there was a high amount of paraffin wax in what was being sold as pure beeswax.

AHBIC is asking all State Associations and beekeeping groups in Australia to ask beekeepers not to use imported beeswax foundation. This is the only way we can make sure that our beeswax stays pure and the price premium for that clean wax can be maintained on the world market. The message also needs to be extended to the public to build awareness of the potential exposure to chemicals in purchasing overseas beeswax. Australian beeswax is pure and needs to stay that way. Buy only Australian beeswax to protect our industry and use only Australian beeswax for your own wellbeing. Use your journals, meetings, newsletters and social media to get this message out.

Included in this publicity is to ask beekeepers if they have purchased imported beeswax foundation, to supply AHBIC with a sample and we will have it analysed. If the foundation is found to have unwanted chemicals or is adulterated with other waxes then we can lodge a complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and ask for a prosecution.

It is up to Australian beekeepers and the public to make sure that we maintain our clean beeswax.

Download statement here

13 August 2020

COVID-19 Updates and information by Aust Honey Bee Industry Council and Australian Almonds

Border closures and restrictions:

2020 Almond Pollination Exit Protocol provided by Queensland Beekeepers Association – Download PDF Here

Beekeepers are advised that if they are returning their bee hives to NSW that they can apply for a “Critical Services – movement of freight” to deliver the hives back to their usual NSW location or another place of storage. This permit is not to be used for hive maintenance or relocation of hives for ongoing pollination contracts.
Beekeepers that live within the border zone on either side of the NSW/Victorian border may apply for a border zone resident permit. This permit may allow for ongoing maintenance and movement of hives. Permit holders will need to carry evidence of residence and work location within that zone.
Beekeepers from outside the border zone, but within 100km of the Vic/NSW border, can apply for a critical services (agriculture) permit if they require to undertake critical maintenance that cannot be delayed. A critical service agriculture worker is a Victorian resident who is employed in an agricultural or primary production industry in New South Wales to provide a critical agriculture service.
The border region is an area defined by certain postcodes on either side of the NSW/Victorian border as per the Service NSW website. Victorian Residents that live in one of the listed Victorian postcodes may apply for a permit to conduct pollination services and the maintenance of hives that are located in any of the postcodes listed in NSW. You may not leave this region within 14 days of entering NSW.
The critical services (agriculture) permit may also allow for critical work within a 100km radius from the border in NSW, but those services cannot be available by another provider in NSW. It is critical for the applicant to obtain a valid registration code by having the head of their organisation, or if self-employed the person you are providing critical services to, to register as a critical services worker prior to applying for the COVID-19 NSW border entry permit from Service NSW. Critical workers can be registered at https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/register-critical-services-worker-covid-19-nsw-border-entry-permit
For more information regarding eligibility and how to apply for a Critical Services (Agriculture) Permit, or to seek an exemption, contact Service NSW.

Status of entry points into Victoria: