ILLEGAL IMPORTATION OF BEES

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is concerned about a recent attempt to illegally import bees into Northern Ireland from America. Imports from America and Australia are not permitted. Such attempts put the health of our bee stock at risk.

The potential threats from Africanized bee strains and the new threat of the small hive beetle in imports from America at1d Australia underline the seriousness of illegal traffic in honeybees Varroa arrived in Northern Ireland last year and was probably the direct result of an illegal importation. A fine of up to £1000 is applicable in such cases where notifiable diseases are involved Importations of queen bees and attendant worker bees are permissible from other EO member states and from Hawaii and New Zealand (South Island only) which have excellent proven bee health status but a licence to import must be obtained from the Department before importation takes place. The bees must come from a Varroa-free enterprise and be accompanied by an appropriate Health Certificate When bees arrive into Northern Ireland a health inspection must be arranged by contacting Mr Paul Moore, Applied Plant Science Division, Newforge Lane, BELFAST on (028) 9025 5288   Anyone wishing to import bees under these arrangements should contact and forward a completed import licence application form to :  

Miss Dionne Newell

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Room 1019 Dundonald House

Upper Newtownards Road

BELFAST BT43SB

Telephone: 02890524611

Fax: 02890524671

E-mail dionne.newell@dardi.gov.uk

20-Feb-2008