The honeybee industry of Florida is of major importance in the pollination of various agricultural crops and in the production of high quality honey and honeybee products. Honeybee pests and unwanted races of honeybees which threaten this important industry must be regulated. To accomplish this, the Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection must register and inspect honeybee colonies in order to certify them as meeting the requirements of freedom or substantial freedom from honeybee pests of regulatory significance and freedom from unwanted races of honeybees. Therefore, the following is required by law, Chapter 586, Florida Statutes, and Rule Chapter 5B53 and 5B-54, Florida Administrative Code, to assist in the protection of the apiary industry.

Each beekeeper having honeybee colonies within the state must register with the Department using application form PI-176 which will be completed at the time of initial inspection. Upon approval of the application, the Department will issue to the beekeeper a Certificate of Beekeeping Registration. This certificate must be renewed annually on or prior to the anniversary date of the certificate.

Effective November 3, 1992, each application for registration or renewal of registration (PI-176) must be accompanied by the proper registration fee based on the total number of colonies operated by the registrant as follows:

The penalty fee for late payments shall be $ 10.00. The law makes no provisions for exemption from payment of this fee due to a persons disability or age. The certificate of registration must be renewed before expiration date.

Fees for special inspection services may vary depending on the service requested. For further information contact: The Apiary Inspection section at (352) 372-3505.

Each apiary shall be inspected by the Department at such intervals as the Department deems best for the detection of honeybee pests and unwanted races of honeybees. All apiaries must have been inspected within 12 months of the registration renewal date.

Each apiary site shall be maintained in such a manner as to allow reasonable access for inspection. All hives must have movable frames.

All honeybee hives must be permanently imprinted on the upper left hand corner in letters at least inch in height with the beekeepers registration number issued by the Department. Beekeepers with honeybee hives branded with a numerical or alphabetical code before November 22, 1988, shall not be required to rebrand with the registration number, provided the existing brand is registered with the Department. This number may be applied with paint, permanent ink marker or any legible permanent marking method.

(a) on each sale or movement of honeybees within the state unless the hives are branded with the beekeepers registration number;

In addition to a general certificate of inspection, special provisions must be met concerning the regulation and control of Varroa gacobsoni Oud., the varroa mite. In accordance with Rule 5B53, honeybee colonies must be inspected and found free of varroa mites or be treated yearly. After meeting the inspection and/or treatment requirements, a Varroa Mite Certificate valid for 1 2 months may be issued covering the movement of honeybee colonies or other regulated articles within the State of Florida. A post treatment survey and a six months survey of 5% of the colonies is required, as is an invoice showing proof of purchase of an approved acaricide.

A. All hives found infested with American foulbrood shall be destroyed by burning. Other hives in the bee yard shall be quarantined for a minimum of 30 days. Compensation may be paid at the estimated equipment value, not to exceed $30.00.

B. Hives infested with other related honeybee pests and any unwanted races of honeybees shall be quarantined and treated as prescribed by the Department. No compensation will be awarded for such action.

Any apiary found without proper identification or registration information shall be considered abandoned. Following a reasonable effort to contact the owner, the Department shall dispose of such equipment following guidelines detailed in Rule Chapter 5B-54, F.A.C.

Any person who violates the provisions of Chapter 586, Florida Statutes, or rules adopted thereunder shall for the first offense be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, and upon a second or subsequent conviction thereof shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree. The Department may, after notice and hearing, impose a fine not exceeding $5,000 for the violation of any of the provisions of this law or rules thereunder.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT APIARY INSPECTION, DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY, POST OFFICE BOX 147 1 00, GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA 32614-7100, (352) 372-3505, EXTENSIONS 114, 128 OR 421.

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