Apiculture FAQ's
Beekeeper Registration Requirements
Q. Do I have to register when keeping bees?
A. Yes, any person who keeps bees must be registered with the BC
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands.
Q. How do I register?
A. You may complete an online
Beekeeper and Apiary Registration form or download a
copy of the form (PDF format) from the Acts and
Regulations section on this site, or contact BCMAL:
BCMAL – Apiculture
1767 Angus Campbell Road
Abbotsford, BC V3G 2M3
ph. 604-556-3152
fx. 604-556-3030
Apiary Inspections
Q. Who do I contact for an Apiary Inspection?
A. You may contact BCMAL as indicated above, and request an apiary
inspection.
Q. Do I have to pay a service fee for the Apiary Inspection?
A. No, there is no fee.
Q. Are there Apiary Inspection Services available in all parts
of the province?
A. No. Apiary Inspectors are located in areas where most of the
beekeepers and colonies are kept. Each Inspector is a part-time
employee of the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. In
areas where there are no inspectors, the local beekeeping community
can request support for the installation of an inspector.
Q. When I become aware that there is disease, must I contact BCMAL?
A. Yes. Most honeybee diseases spread rapidly and infect colonies of
other beekeepers. It is to the interest and benefit of all
beekeepers to protect their colonies from disease by contacting
BCMAL.
Import and Bee Movement Regulations
Q. Can I import honeybees and queens?
A. Package bees can be imported from New Zealand and Australia, under federal import permits. At this time, there is a federal ban on the import of
honeybees from the United States. Honeybee queens can be imported from New Zealand, Australia,
Chile and California,
under federal import permits.
For details about import conditions and fees, contact:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Room 220, 4 Ave SE Calgary, AB T2G 4X3
fx. 403-292-6629
ph. 403-292-5828
or check CFIA website
www.inspection.gc.ca (Animals/Imports of Animals and Animal
Products/Automated Import Reference System/ find Commodity (type in "bees")/choose Honey Bees-Packaged or Honey
Queen Bees/choose Continent, Country and Stage of origin).
Q. Do I need a permit to move bees?
A. Yes and No. The province has been divided into beekeeping
regions. Movement of bees within a region does not require an
inspection and permit. For colonies to be moved between regions, an
inspection and permit are required. The issuance of a permit is
based on the principle that the honeybee colonies do not pose an
immediate health risk to the bee population of the region to which
they are moved. This means that the colonies may not have to be
totally free of disease, a condition almost impossible to meet. For
details, please refer to the BC Policy on the Movement of Bees in
Acts and Regulations section on this website.
Q. Do I need a permit to move bees from outside the province?
A. Beekeepers from outside BC must apply for an inspection from the
jurisdiction in which they normally operate their colonies. A
reciprocal agreement exists between BC and other jurisdictions to
carry out apiary inspections to meet import requirements.
Non-resident beekeepers cannot move colonies into British Columbia
without an Import Permit issued by BCMAL.
Q. Must Non-Resident Beekeepers register?
A. Yes. All persons operating honeybee colonies in British Columbia
must register their apiary locations before an Import Permit is
issued.
Beekeeper Training and Education
Q. Where can I receive training in beekeeping management?
A. The BCMAL Apiculture Program has been offering introductory
beekeeping courses in different locations for years. These courses
are usually presented in the evening or on weekends, last for about
6 weeks and are mostly offered through local colleges. Enrollment
fees are kept to a minimum. BCMAL and SFU also offer an advanced
apiculture course every two or three years at the Burnaby Campus.
For more information, please visit the Calendar of Events on this
site or contact BCMAL Office.
Some other organizations and individuals may also offer beekeeping
courses from time to time.
Beekeeper Clubs and Associations
Q. Is there a Beekeeper Club in my area?
A. For updated information about a Beekeeper Club in your area,
please contact the ministry Apiculture Office.
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