THE IMPORTATION OF BEES INTO
NORTHERN IRELAND
A GUIDANCE NOTE FOR IMPORTERS
IMPORTANT NOTE
This Note has been produced with the purpose of providing informal, non-statutory
guidance that aims to clarify the animal health requirements that apply to imports of
bees into Northern Ireland from within the European Community, third countries and
Great Britain. It does not provide a comprehensive coverage of all conditions laid down
in European Community and national legislation and has no legal force. Importers
must satisfy themselves that all consignments of bees are imported in accordance with
all the relevant legislative conditions and requirements.
The authoritative legal position can be found in the appropriate national legislation
which is available at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/stat.htm and for European Commission
legislation at http://eur-lex.europa.EU/RECH_menu.do?ihmlang=en
If you have any queries about the import requirements for bees, please contact:
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Quality Assurance Branch
Room 1019
Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
BELFAST BT4 3SB
Tel: 028 9052 4168
Fax: 028 90524671
E-mail: qab.admin@dardni.gov.uk
THE IMPORTATION OF BEES INTO NORTHERN IRELAND
CONDITIONS FOR INTRA-COMMUNITY TRADE
1.1 Any person wishing to import bees into Northern Ireland from a member state of the
European Community must comply with the Animals and Animal Products (Import
and Export) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006. These Regulations implement
the import conditions for bees of the species Apis mellifera (i.e. honey bees) and
bumble bees that are contained in Article 8 of Council Directive 92/65/EEC,
commonly known as the “Balai” Directive. This Directive covers the movement of
animals (including bees) and other products of animal origin, which are not covered
by other EC animal health legislation.
1.2 Importers must ensure that a consignment of bees:

comes from an area that has been free from American foul brood disease for at
least the previous 30 days. The competent authority in the Member State of
origin must have checked all the hives within a 3 kilometre radius and if any
have been found to be infected they must be burned or treated to the
satisfaction of the competent authority.

comes from an area of at least 100km radius which is not the subject of any
restrictions associated with the suspicious or confirmed occurance of the small
hive beetle (Aethina tumida) or the Tropilaelaps mite (Tropilaelaps spp )and
where these infestations are absent.

as well as their packaging, have undergone a visual examination to detect the
occurance of the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) their eggs or larvae or other
infestations in particular Tropilaelaps spp. affecting bees.

is accompanied by an original health certificate modelled on Annex E Part 2 of
Council Directive 92/65/EEC (as amended by Commission Decision
2007/265/EC) issued by the relevant Member State authority. This certificate is
valid for 10 days from the date of issue.
1.3 Further conditions apply as Northern Ireland is a Fireblight Protected Zone and
movement of Bee packages and Hives into EU designated Fireblight Protected
Zones between 15 March and 30 June is subject to control measures in the Plant
Health Directive (2000/29/EC). The control measures in this directive are
implemented by The Plant Health Order (Northern Ireland) 2006. Documentary
evidence must show that:

the bees originate in a country recognised as being free from fireblight;

or originate in one of the EU Fireblight Protected Zones;

or have undergone an appropriate quarantine measure restricting foraging
activity for at least 48 hours prior to arrival.
1.4 Importers must give at least 24 hours notice in writing (including fax) to DARD’s
Quality Assurance Branch which has responsibility for premises of destination
situated in Northern Ireland, of their intention to import from other Member States,
giving the expected date/time of arrival and place of destination. A notification form is
available on the bee health pages of the DARD website at
http://www.dardni.gov.uk/index/animal-health/bees.htm.
CONDITIONS FOR THIRD COUNTRY TRADE
IMPORT CONDITIONS
2.1 The Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2006 also implement the import conditions (as opposed to requirements that
apply following importation) for bees that are contained in Commission Decision
2003/881/EC, as amended by Commission Decision 2005/60/EC which regulates the
importation of bees to the European Community from third countries.
2.2 Commission Decision 2003/881/EC provides that:

imports of bees are restricted to bees of the species Apis mellifera and Bombus
spp. Import controls are applied to bumble bees (Bombus spp.) as it has been
demonstrated (albeit under laboratory conditions) that the small hive beetle can
parasitise bees of this species and could therefore be introduced through such
imports.

the bees can only be allowed into the Community from those third countries (or
parts thereof) listed in Part 1 to Annex II to Council Decision 79/542/EEC (see
list at Annex A attached) provided that the 3 notifiable diseases/pests of bees in
the EU – American foul brood, Aethina tumida (small hive beetle) and
Tropilaelaps spp. (tropilaelaps mites) – are also confirmed as notifiable
diseases throughout the exporting country, or an exporting region of a third
country specifically identified in Part 2 of Annex III to Commission Decision
2003/881/EC. We are only aware that Argentina, Australia, the US State of
Hawaii (which has been given a special derogation by the EU) and New
Zealand are able to meet the EU requirements. Should you wish to import bees
from any of the other third countries listed in Annex A, you should check with
DARD, or alternatively with the relevant authority in the third country concerned,
that it is able to comply with the requirements of the EU health certificate.

the bees must come from an area that is not affected by these notifiable
diseases, and that they have been inspected and certified as being free of
diseases, including notifiable diseases and infestations affecting bees.

the bees must be accompanied by an original health certificate signed by the
relevant authority in the country of origin. Copies are not permitted. Each health
certificate must cover only one consignment and bear the full address of the
consignment’s final destination. Health certificates are valid for 10 days from the
date of issue.

imports of bees from eligible third countries (except New Zealand) are restricted
to consignments of queen bees and attendant workers only. Each queen bee
must be contained in a single cage and accompanied by no more than 20
attendant worker bees.

imports of packaged honey and bumble bees are only permitted from New
Zealand as a derogation has been agreed under the EU/NZ Veterinary
Agreement. Imported consignments must be accompanied by an original health
certificate modelled on Annex VI of Commission Decision 2003/561/EC (as
amended by Commission Decision 2006/855/EC) and signed by the relevant
authorities in New Zealand.

packages or single colonies of bumble bees (a maximum of 200 adult bees per
container) are permitted from eligible third countries provided that they are bred
under environmentally controlled conditions within recognised establishments.
Each consignment must be accompanied by an original health certificate
modelled on Annex II to Commission Decision 2003/881/EC.
BORDER INSPECTION POSTS
2.3 It is a requirement of the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export)
Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 that all bees imported directly into Northern
Ireland from a third country must enter through an approved Border Inspection Posts
(BIPs). In order to comply with the requirement for documentary checks, we strongly
recommend that bees be sent cargo, as opposed to airmail as, this will ensure that
the bees are given special treatment as live animal cargo. At the UK BIPs, DEFRA
officials will issue a Border Crossing Certificate and forward the bees to their
destination. There are no BIP’s with approval for importing bees directly into Northern
Ireland so imports must arrive at either of the BIP’s listed at 2.6 or see note 2.4
2.4 Presently there are no provisions for importation of live bees from third countries into
any Republic of Ireland ports. Before considering this option importers should contact
the relevant authorities regarding the present handling facilities and status of the
BIP’s at ports in ROI. For further information regarding importation into or through the
Republic of Ireland contact: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food Backweston Campus Stacumney Lane
Celbridge Co. Kildare. Tel: 00 353 1 5053442.
Attention is also drawn to the fact that registration and notification requirements must
also be complied with for importation to the Republic of Ireland as well as notification
to DARD for movements to Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland.
2.5 Importers must give, by post or fax, at least one clear working day's notice, in writing,
of the anticipated date of arrival of the consignment to the Divisional Veterinary
Manager of the BIP through which the consignment is to be imported. A notification
form is available at
http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/forms/documents/plantHealth/DEF-BEE28FERA.pdf
Notifications should be sent Thursday for a consignment arriving on a Saturday,
Sunday or Monday; Friday for a consignment arriving on Tuesday; Monday for
arrivals on Wednesday and so on. Advance notice is required so that the necessary
documentary checks can be made. Ideally, notification should be done via the
TRACES system and should include all the information required by Part 1 of the
Common Veterinary Entry Document (CVED) (Commission Regulation (EC) No.
282/2004 refers). Further information is available at
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trde/traces/index.htm
2.6 All notification forms to be sent to one of the following the BIPs:
3.1.1 Heathrow BIP
Divisional Veterinary Manager
Animal Reception Centre
Beacon Road
Heathrow Airport
Hounslow
Middlesex TW6 3JF
Tel: 020 8759 7002
Fax: 020 8564 8939
3.1.2 Gatwick BIP
Divisional Veterinary Manager
Animal Health Division
Liberty House
105 Bell Street
Reigate
RH2 7JB
Tel: 01737 242242
Fax: 01737 241189
and copied to:
Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
Quality Assurance Branch
Room 1019
Dundanald House
Upper Newtownards Road
BELFAST BT4 3SB
Tel: 028 9052 4168
Fax: 028 90524671
Email: qab.admin@dardni.gov.uk
2.7 Please note that non-compliance with the import requirements in the Animals and
Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 is an
offence and could lead to prosecution.
CHARGES FOR VETERINARY CHECKS
2.8 Importers should note that under the provisions of the Animals (Third Country
Imports) (Charges) Regulations 1997, charges are made for veterinary checks on
animals, including bees entering the UK from a third country. Importers are asked to
send their fee, currently set at £5.00 per consignment, to the Divisional Veterinary
Manager of the BIP when returning their notification form. This fee may be subject to
review in the future.
POST IMPORT CONTROLS
2.9 EC requirements for post import controls on consignments of bees imported from
third countries are contained in Commission Decision 2003/881/EC (as amended).
They are aimed at reducing the risk of introduction and spread of exotic bee pests, in
particular the small hive beetle and tropilaelaps mites, both of which are notifiable.
These post controls are implemented in Northern Ireland by Article 11 of The Bee
Diseases and Pests Control Order (Northern Ireland) 2007. This article requires
that:

Once the imported queen bees arrive at the apiary of destination, the
consignee/importer transfers the queens to new (queen) cages before they are
introduced to any local colonies.

The consignee/importer sends the (queen) cages, attendant worker bees and
other material that accompanied the queen bees from their third country of
origin to a laboratory for examination for the presence of the small hive beetle
and tropilaelaps mite.

For queen bees imported into Northern Ireland, all such items should be sent to
the Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Zoology & Entomology, Newforge
Lane, BELFAST BT9 5PX within 5 days of importation.

Where colonies of bumble bees have been imported, the importer must destroy
the container in which they were transported and all material that accompanied
the bees either during or immediately at the end of the lifespan of the imported
colony.
2.10 Please note that non-compliance with the post-import requirements in The Bee
Diseases and Pests Control Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 is an offence under
the Bees (Northern Ireland) Order 1980 and could lead to prosecution.
PACKING PRECAUTIONS
2.11 When packing bees and other materials for posting to AFBI, please do not use tin
boxes, polythene bags or other airtight containers. The 'sweating' of a sample thus
enclosed leads to rapid decomposition of the bees and makes an examination
difficult. Please use matchboxes or small cardboard containers, as bees travel well
in such containers and arrive in good condition for examination.
CONDITIONS FOR GB TRADE
3.1 Northern Ireland is a Fireblight Protected Zone and movement of Bee packages and
Hives into EU designated Fireblight Protected Zones between 15 March and 30 June
is subject to control measures in the Plant Health Directive (2000/29/EC). The control
measures in this directive are implemented by The Plant Health Order (Northern
Ireland) 2006.
3.2 Documentary evidence must show that the bees moved from GB have undergone an
appropriate quarantine measure restricting foraging activity for at least 48 hours prior
to arrival.
Quality Assurance Branch
February 2010
ANNEX A
IMPORTATION OF QUEEN HONEY BEES FROM THIRD COUNTRIES:
THIRD COUNTRIES LISTED IN PART 1 OF ANNEX II TO COUNCIL
DECISION 79/542/EEC (AS AMENDED) FROM WHICH IMPORTS OF
BEES MAY BE ALLOWED INTO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY FROM
2008
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Bahrain
Belarus
Belize
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China, People’s Republic of
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus **
El Salvador
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Greenland
Guatemala
Hong Kong
Honduras
Iceland
India
Israel
Kenya
Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of
Madagascar
Mauritius
Mexico
Morocco
Namibia
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Romania
Russian Federation
Serbia and Montenegro
South Africa
Swaziland
Switzerland
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
United States of America#
Uruguay
Zimbabwe
** northern Cyprus remains a third country for import purposes.
# Derogation allowing imports from the State of Hawaii only. Imports into the European
Community from mainland USA are prohibited.