In Atlantic Canada, there are four legislative acts that
govern our daily beekeeping activities. Each Atlantic province has their own
act in place, and the rules and regulations between acts have several
similarities and differences. We are fortunate to have these acts to protect
the beekeeping industry. These acts have
been meticulously written with their primary focus on preventing and managing pests
and diseases so that our industry can continue to be successful.
The Rules for Successful Beekeeping
In Atlantic Canada, beekeeping is governed by four distinct
legislative acts, each tailored to the unique needs of their respective
provinces. The Bee Industry Act1 in Nova Scotia mandates annual
registration for beekeepers. It also has strict guidelines for the sale of bees
and used beekeeping equipment, and requires permits for the importation of bees
and used equipment. New Brunswick's Bee Act2 is closely aligned with
Nova Scotia (Table 1). On the other hand, Prince Edward Island's Animal Health
Act3 is less stringent, with no registration or renewal requirements
but gives the Provincial Apiarist authority to regulate honey bee genetic
material sales. Newfoundland and Labrador's Animal Health and Protection Act4
takes a hands-off approach, with no registration, renewal, or specific
regulations for buying and selling, but a firm requirement for permits to
import bees and used equipment into the province.
Legislative
Act |
Required Beekeeping Registration |
Registration Renewal Period |
Rules and Regulations for Buying and
Selling |
Importation of Bees and Used Beekeeping
Equipment |
|
Nova Scotia |
Bee Industry Act (2005) |
Yes |
Must occur by November 1st
each year. |
The beekeeper must have the bees or
used equipment inspected. |
Not allowed without a permit from the
Minister. |
New Brunswick |
Bee Act (2023) Replaced the Apiary Inspection Act |
Yes |
Must occur between May 15th and June 29th. |
The beekeeper must have the bees or
used equipment inspected. |
Not allowed without a permit from the
Provincial Apiculturist. |
Prince Edward Island |
Animal Health Act (2019) |
N/A |
N/A |
The Provincial Apiarist can prohibit
the beekeeper from selling genetic material of honey bees. |
Not allowed without a Genetic Material
Health Certificate from the Provincial Apiarist. |
Newfoundland and Labrador |
Animal Health and Protection Act (2012) |
N/A |
N/A |
There are no specified restrictions for
buying and selling honey bees and used equipment. |
Not allowed without a permit from the
Minister. |
An example of the benefits to having mandatory registration
is occurring in Australia. Australia's proactive approach to beekeeping
regulations has proven instrumental in effectively tracking and mitigating the
spread of Varroa mites. With a continent-wide registration system, Australian
authorities can monitor the movement of hives, their owners, and the locations
of apiaries. This detailed data has allowed for rapid implementation of
quarantine zones and inspection protocols in affected areas, preventing the
mite from establishing a stronghold. Another example occurred in New Brunswick
when the Small Hive Beetle (SHB) was detected in 2017, and mandatory
registration was proven to be a vital asset in tracking and monitoring SHB for
the province. Provinces without
legislated registration may leave their beekeepers vulnerable to emerging pests
or disease. The registration of
beekeepers may be particularly important to maintaining Newfoundland’s Varroa
free status.
Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island are actively moving
towards implementing a mandatory registration system. By introducing mandatory
registration, both provinces aim to establish comprehensive databases of
beekeepers and apiaries to provide authorities with vital information to
respond to disease outbreaks. This proactive approach will align these
provinces with the best regulatory practices in other provinces. Although, even with the support of industry,
these changes are often slow due to the complexity of creating and enacting new
legislation.
Beekeeping is not done in isolation. All beekeeping
practices extend past the boundaries of hives or apiaries. Therefore, it is
crucial to have good beekeeping practices, rather than merely what is legally
mandated. There are many things beekeepers should do, including voluntarily registering
bees, even if that is not a legal requirement for a given province. This also
extends to only buying and selling bees to/from registered, inspected
beekeepers.
Understanding the beekeeping regulations in your province is
essential for a successful and compliant beekeeping operation. It is also
important to recognize that not only do beekeepers need to follow provincial
laws, but also municipal bylaws were bees will often fall under the category of
livestock. By adhering to these regulations, beekeepers can help the industry while
preserving the well-being of their honey bee colonies.
References
- Bee Industry Act. Bee Industry Regulations. 2017.
- Bee Act, SNB. 2023.
- Animal Health Act. Bee Health Regulations. 2019.
- Animal Health and Protection Act. 2012.
Connecting with ATTTA Specialists
If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:
visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/
Email abyers@perennia.ca