These controls are aimed at reducing the risk of the introduction and spread of exotic bee pests, in particular Small Hive Beetle and Tropilaelaps mite (which are notifiable in the UK). If you are importing bees, whether for your own use or to sell on, it is important that you comply with all the import conditions in order to protect the health of honey bees in the UK.
For full information on importing bees into Scotland, please refer to the following guidance.
If you have any queries about the import requirements for honey bees, please contact the Bees Mailbox.
Overview
The key requirements for imports from EU member states and the rest of the world are:
1. You must notify all imports in advance via the IPAFFS system. Information about the system and details regarding how to register are available by clicking on the link.
2. You must ensure that consignments from EU member states and the rest of the world are accompanied by a health certificate which has been obtained from the relevant competent authority.
3. Imports from countries other than EU member states must enter via a border control point. Imports from EU member states will be checked at destination on a risk basis until the end of the beekeeping season. We will update this guidance shortly to advise of the position from 1 January 2024.
4. You cannot import packages or colonies of bees from any country other than New Zealand.
5. Only queen honey bees accompanied by up to 20 attendants can be imported into GB from the EU and any other third country, except New Zealand.
When you receive a consignment of imported honey bees you must:
- Transfer the queens to new queen cages before they are introduced to any local colonies.
- Send the original cages, attendant worker bees and other material that accompanied the queen bees from their country of origin to SASA within 5 days of receipt for examination for the presence of the Small Hive Beetle and Tropilaelaps mite.
How to send a sample:
Following removal of the queen, all queen cages and attendant bees should be contained within a sealable plastic bag and (where possible) stored in a freezer overnight, or until ready to post. Please retain the material in this sealed bag, package it securely in a rigid box, and send to the below address, along with your contact details and the CHED reference number (found on part I of the CHED form).
Bee Health – Imports
SASA
Roddinglaw Road
Edinburgh
EH12 9FJ
6. You must comply with the post-import controls applying to consignments imported from countries.
7. In addition, we would strongly encourage you to keep records of beekeepers to whom you have sold any imported bees, This will enable beekeepers to be contactes quickly in the event of any notifiable pests and diseases being found in the imported consignment.
8. Please note that you must satisfy yourself that consignments are imported in accordance with all the relevant legislative conditions. Failure to comply with the requirements laid down in the Trade in Animal and Related Products (Scotland) Regulations 2012 (as amended) and the Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Scotland) order 2007 (as amended) may lead to your consignment being destroyed and to potential prosecution.
Full guidance on importing bees into Scotland is available through the link. If you have any queries about the import requirements for honey bees, please contact the Bees Mailbox.
SASA