REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IMPORT OF PRESCRIBED POTENTIAL CARRIERS OF THE DECLARED PESTS Of HONEY BEES (Apis mellifera)

Declared pests

• Varroa mite (Varroa destructor)
• European foulbrood (Melissococcus plutonius, EFB)
• American foulbrood (Paenibacillus larvae, AFB)
• Nosema ceranae
• Small hive beetle (Aethina tumida, SHB)

Prescribed potential carriers of varroa mite

• Honey;
• Honeycomb;
• Beeswax;
• Propolis in a quantity per individual unit that exceeds 200ml or 200g;
• Bee collected pollen for use in beekeeping;
• Bee collected pollen for uses other than beekeeping in a quantity per individual unit that exceeds 150ml or 100g;
• Used beehives and beekeeping appliances/equipment;
• Honey bees (including queens, packaged bees, drones, working colonies, brood, bee comb).

Prescribed potential carriers of European foulbrood and American foulbrood

• Honey;
• Honeycomb;
• Beeswax;
• Propolis in a quantity per individual unit that exceeds 200ml or 200g;
• Royal jelly in a quantity per individual unit that exceeds 150ml or 35g;
• Bee collected pollen for use in beekeeping;
• Bee collected pollen for uses other than beekeeping in a quantity per individual unit that exceeds 150ml or 100g;
• Used beehives and beekeeping appliances/equipment;
• Honey bees (including queens, packaged bees, drones, working colonies, brood, bee comb).

Prescribed Potential Carriers of Nosema ceranae

• Used beehives and beekeeping appliances/equipment;
• Honey bees ( Permit required under reg 72);
• Bee semen ( Permit required under reg 72).

Prescribed Potential Carriers of small hive beetle

• Used beehives and beekeeping appliances/equipment;
• Honey bees ( Permit required under reg 72).

Note - Varroa mite requirements do not apply to potential carriers that have been derived from/associated with hives, which for the preceding 12 months have been located in a state or territory or part of a state or territory that is free from varroa mite as evidenced by Area Freedom Certificate(s) approved by the Chief Plant Biosecurity Officer Western Australia. Documentation that verifies the origin of the carrier may be requested.

Note – Bee venom is not a potential carrier of the listed declared pests and is permitted entry

Note - Propolis, royal jelly and bee collected pollen, in capsules or tablets in ready retail packaging and intended for human consumption, is not a prescribed potential carrier.

Note - Consignments of propolis may comprise of more than one individual unit, subject to the total weight of each unit amounting to not more than the lesser of 200ml or 200g. Consignments of royal jelly may comprise of more than one individual unit, subject to the total weight of each unit amounting to not more than the lesser of 150ml or 35g.

Note – Exporters of bee collected pollen for uses other than beekeeping may be required to provide evidence of its intended use

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IMPORTATION OF PRESCRIBED POTENTIAL CARRIERS

Prescribed potential carriers of bee pests and diseases to be imported to Western Australia (WA) must fully satisfy the requirements of the relevant section below, or be imported as authorised by, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of an import permit issued under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007.

1.    Honey, honeycomb, propolis and royal jelly where it is the single greatest ingredient by volume

Each consignment must be accompanied by an Interstate Health Certificate issued by the quarantine authority in the exporting state or territory, or under a quality assurance arrangement approved by the Chief Plant Biosecurity Officer, Western Australia certifying that the following requirements have been met:

1.1 The product:

1.1.1 has been treated with irradiation at a rate of at least 15 kilogray (AFB, EFB, varroa mite).

OR

1.1.2 (a) has originated from and has been packaged in a country, state or territory that is free from European foulbrood; and

(b) has been declared by the exporter as derived from apiaries that have been inspected by the beekeeper and found free of American foulbrood; and

(c) has been derived from apiaries that for the preceding 12 months have only been in a state or territory or part of a state or territory that is free from varroa mite as evidenced by an Area Freedom Certificate approved the Chief Plant Biosecurity Officer Western Australia.

OR

1.1.3 (a) has been treated with irradiation at a rate of at least 10 kilogray (AFB, varroa mite); and

(b) has originated from and been packaged in a country, state or territory that is free from European foulbrood.

OR

 

1.1.4 (a) has been declared by the exporter as derived from apiaries that have been inspected by the beekeeper and found free of American foulbrood; and

(b) has been treated at a minimum temperature for the corresponding minimum time as specified in the below table: (EFB, varroa mite)

Temperature (°C)	Minimum time
50	54 hours
60 – 65	8 hours
70	1 hour and 48 minutes
80	22 minutes
82	20 minutes
90 or more	5 minutes

OR

1.1.5 (a) has been treated with irradiation at a rate of at least 10 kilogray (AFB, varroa mite); and

(b) heat treated at a minimum temperature for the corresponding minimum time as specified in the below table: (EFB, varroa mite)

Temperature (°C)	Minimum time
50	54 hours
60 – 65	8 hours
70	1 hour and 48 minutes
80	22 minutes
82	20 minutes
90 or more	5 minutes

AND

1.2 The machinery and equipment used to pack the product has only processed prescribed potential carriers meeting the relevant import requirements for Western Australia or has been cleaned and washed free from contaminating risk material prior to the packing

 

2.    Honey, honeycomb, propolis, royal jelly, pollen, beeswax samples, dead bees and dead bee larvae imported for the purpose of diagnostics or analysis

2.1 (a) Each consignment must be consigned to an approved WA or Commonwealth quarantine facility approved for that purpose; and

(b) be packaged in a secure manner in accordance with International Air Transport Association Dangerous Goods Regulations Packing Instructions, with packaging clearly marked on the outside with the name and address of the exporter and the recipient approved quarantine facility; and

(c) be accompanied by the relevant form available from DPIRD.

 

3.    Beeswax and products in which beeswax is the single greatest ingredient by volume

For use other than beekeeping:

3.1 The product to be clarified and refined by heat treatment to melting point and free from extraneous matter.

OR

3.2 Each consignment to be accompanied by an Interstate Health Certificate issued by the quarantine authority in the exporting state or territory, or under a quality assurance arrangement approved by the Chief Plant Biosecurity Officer, certifying that:

3.2.1 the product has been treated with irradiation at the rate of at least 15 kilogray (AFB, EFB, varroa mite);

OR

3.2.2 (a) originated from a country, state or territory that is free from European foulbrood, and

(b) derived from apiaries that have been inspected by the beekeeper and found free of American foulbrood, and

(c)  has been derived from apiaries that for the preceding 12 months have only been in a state or territory or part of a state or territory that is free from varroa mite as evidenced by an Area Freedom Certificate approved the Chief Plant Biosecurity Officer Western Australia

 

For use with beekeeping:

Not permitted except where authorised by, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of, an import permit issued under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007.

 

4.    Honey used in queen candy and food for bees that contains bee products (including but not limited to honey, honeycomb or propolis or royal jelly)

Each consignment to be accompanied by an Interstate Health Certificate issued by the quarantine authority in the exporting state or territory, or under a quality assurance arrangement approved by the Chief Plant Biosecurity Officer, certifying that:

4.1 (a) The product has been treated with irradiation at the rate of at least 15 kilogray (AFB, EFB, varroa mite); and

(b) The machinery and equipment used to pack the product has only processed prescribed potential carriers meeting the relevant import requirements for Western Australia or has been cleaned and washed free from contaminating risk material prior to the packing.

 

5.    Bee collected pollen

(A) for use in beekeeping; or

(B) for uses other than beekeeping in quantities greater than 150ml or 100g

Each consignment to be accompanied by an Interstate Health Certificate issued by the quarantine authority in the exporting state or territory, or under a quality assurance arrangement approved by the Chief Plant Biosecurity Officer certifying that:

5.1 (a) The product has been treated with irradiation at the rate of at least 15 kilogray (AFB, EFB, varroa mite); and

(b) The machinery and equipment used to pack the product has only processed prescribed potential carriers meeting the relevant import requirements for Western Australia or has been cleaned and washed free from contaminating risk material prior to the packing.

 

6.    Used beehives, beekeeping appliances and equipment

Each consignment to be accompanied by an Interstate Health Certificate issued by the quarantine authority in the exporting state or territory, or under a quality assurance arrangement approved by the Chief Plant Biosecurity Officer certifying that:

6.1 The product has been treated by irradiation at the rate of at least 15 kilogray (AFB. EFB, varroa mite);

7.    Honey bees

Not permitted except where authorised by, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of, an import permit issued under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007.

 

8.    Bee semen

Not permitted except where authorised by, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of, an import permit issued under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007.