Beekeeper permits

FROMMonday, January 23,beekeepers with Victorian registered hives can apply for apermit to move their hives from New South Wales (NSW) into Victoria.

In amilestonefor the nationalvarroa mite eradication response, there is now national acceptance that the state of NSW is free from the pest, apart from those areas within a 25 km radius of an infected hive.

Acting Chief PlantHealth Officer, Dr Stephen Dibley, said this nationaldecision had been made after extensive surveillance showing with 99.99 percentconfidence that varroa mite is not present in the NSW ‘blue zone’.

“Victoria welcomes this announcement, and we cannow beginassessing permit applications to move hives from NSW into Victoria that wereunable to cross the border priortothe national acceptance of area freedom in NSW’s blue zone,” Dr Dibley said.

“Initially, only Victorian registered hives in the blue zone that can demonstrate compliance with testing and traceability requirements will be able to be moved.”

In the coming weeks, non-Victorian registered hives will also be able to apply for apermit to enter Victoria. “While hives in the blue zone areoflow risk, Victoria is maintaining acautious and staged approach to welcominghives from NSW to ensurethatbiosecurityrisks can be appropriately managed,” Dr Dibley said.

“Therewill also be an increased testing regime required for all hives moving into Victoria.”

It is every beekeeper’sresponsibility to ensurethey areuptodate with current movement requirements beforemoving their bees and related items.

All movement requests will be subject to strict permit conditions and active compliance checks.

Beekeepers are reminded that ahealth certificate must be obtained for all movements of bees, bee products and used fittings (beekeepingequipment) into Victoria.

For moredetailed eligibilitycriteria, information, and applications,visit the permit application page on the Agriculture Victoria website.

Please visit the NSW Departmentof Primary Industries website for more information about the area of freedom announcement.