Honey bee pests and diseases present a significant threat to the beekeeping industry in Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), provincial agriculture departments, and beekeepers, all have an important role in maintaining the health of honey bee populations. Beekeepers are on the front lines, responsible for the early detection and prompt reporting of honey bee pests and diseases. On the other hand, the CFIA and provincial agriculture departments collaborate to establish and enforce pest and disease regulations. Read this week’s blog to learn more about the responsibility of Canadian beekeepers to report honey bee pests and diseases, as determined by the CFIA and provincial agriculture departments.

Beekeepers' Vital Role: Reporting Honey Bee Pests and Diseases in Canada

In Canada, the management and control of reportable honey bee pests and diseases is governed by the CFIA and provincial agricultural departments. The CFIA establishes and enforces national standards for reportable honey bee pests and diseases. These standards include identification, prevention, and control measures for reportable pests and diseases to ensure uniformity in managing honey bees across the country¹. Additionally, the CFIA regulates the importation of bees and bee-related products at the Canadian border. On the other hand, provincial agriculture departments are responsible for implementing additional regulations to meet the needs of their province and for enforcement at the provincial level.

The reportable pests and diseases of honey bees vary between each Canadian province. A notable variation occurs in Newfoundland and Labrador, which is the only province that has Varroa destructor as a reportable pest since the province is Varroa free². However, other provinces may require Varroa mite populations resistant to synthetic acaricides to be reported³. Other pests and diseases which are reportable in several Canadian provinces include American foulbrood, Asian mite, tracheal mite, and the small hive beetle^4,5. It is essential that beekeepers are informed about reportable pests and diseases in their own province in order to be compliant with provincial and national regulations.

Beekeepers who suspect the presence of a reportable pest or disease are obligated to notify their respective provincial apiarist. When contacting the provincial apiarist, beekeepers must provide information on the probable type of reportable pest/disease found, when and where the pest/disease was found, and any action taken by the beekeeper to address the situation. The provincial apiarist, in turn, will coordinate with the CFIA to confirm and address the threat. In some cases, government inspectors may visit the affected apiary to perform an inspection, and, depending on the pest or disease, collect samples for laboratory testing.

Beekeeper performing a regular hive inspection (ATTTA©2021).

The management of reportable honey bee pests and diseases in Canada involves a collaborative effort between beekeepers, the CFIA, and provincial agriculture departments. Together, they coordinate efforts to ensure early detection, containment, and control of these pests and diseases to protect the Canadian beekeeping industry.

References

1. Bee Health Management. Honey Bee Producer Guide to the National Bee Farm-level Biosecurity Standard. 2022. https://inspection.canada.ca/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/biosecurity/standards-and-principles/honey-bee-producer-guide/eng/1378390483360/1378390541968 
2. Animal Health and Protection Act. 2012. https://www.assembly.nl.ca/Legislation/sr/Regulations/rc120033.htm#7_ 
3. Bee Industry Act. Bee Industry Regulations. 2017. https://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/beeindustry.htm  
4. Bee Act, SNB. 2023. https://laws.gnb.ca/en/pdf/cs/2021-c.30.pdf?_gl=1*3q5kb2*_ga*NzE0MDc0MTg2LjE2OTk1NDkwMzU.*_ga_F531P4D0XX*MTY5OTU0OTAzNC4xLjAuMTY5OTU0OTAzNC4wLjAuMA.. 
5. Animal Health Act. Bee Health Regulations. 2019. https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/sites/default/files/legislation/a11-1-2-animal_health_act_bee_health_regulations.pdf 

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

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.

Table 1. Comparison of the 4 Atlantic Canada honey bee legislative acts.

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

1. Bee Industry Act. Bee Industry Regulations. 2017.
2. Bee Act, SNB. 2023.
3. Animal Health Act. Bee Health Regulations. 2019.
4. 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

As beekeepers, it is our responsibility to take care of the health of our honey bees. The practice of managing your beekeeping operation to reduce the introduction and spread of disease causing pests is referred to as biosecurity (CFIA 2022). Honey bees present a biosecurity situation unique from other livestock species because they have freedom to roam and can interact with other bees and apiaries. This means that the health of our honey bees as a region depends on every beekeeper, regardless of operation size. In the upcoming blogs, we will discuss biosecurity and how to incorporate it into your apiary management.

Honey Bee Biosecurity 

Honey bees are susceptible to a wide variety of pests, some of which come with the risk of disease. Biosecurity practices help us reduce the risk of introducing these pests into our colonies as well as contain the spread, should they be introduced. The introduction of pests can be thought of on a wide scale. For Canadian beekeepers, this could be as broad as pest spreading into Canada or as close as moving from one hive in our apiary to another. 

The Honey Bee Producer Guide to the National Bee Farm-level Biosecurity Standard is a document that has been produced to help beekeepers across Canada improve their biosecurity practices. It outlines a management standard which can be voluntarily practiced and is applicable to both large and small-scale beekeepers to help prevent and control pests. Introducing these practices into your management will support stronger colonies with a more vigorous capacity for pollination and honey production, reduce overwintering losses, save money on expensive treatments, slow the timeline of pest resistance to our important chemical treatments, and more. 

A critical step in keeping your apiary free of pests is by obtaining new bees and bee products from reliable sources with documented the health records. When buying bees from within your own province, make sure to ask the seller about the health of their colonies, recent treatments, and a record of a health check from a provincial inspector. Importing bees from outside of the province or outside of the country requires more action to ensure biosecurity. CAPA has produced a Guide for Beekeepers on Procedures to Move, Export, or Sell Honey Bees Across Canada, which contains up to date information for procedures and relevant contact information for all provinces. There are also importation protocols which are unique to each Atlantic province, listed below. In addition to reviewing these protocols, it is advised to communicate directly with your provincial apiarist before doing any honey bee importations. 

A honey bee afflicted with Deformed Wing Virus. This is an easily identifiable virus and should also alert beekeepers to test for Varroa mite levels. ATTTA© 2022

Biosecurity management practices apply within your apiary, as well. The first line of defense is to maintain strong colonies that are less susceptible to pests. For example, this includes ensuring your bees have adequate nutrition year-round and providing them with a hive that protects them from the elements. Another important aspect of biosecurity is being able to accurately identify pests and their symptoms in your bees. Beyond this, it is important to have a plan of what to do if a pest is then detected. For example, what treatments are appropriate and whether your provincial apiarist needs to be informed. To reduce spread, it is also recommended to minimize the contact between an impacted hive and the rest of your colonies. This includes direct bee to bee contact as well as indirect contact through actions like feeding and handling. 

For more detailed information on all of the actions you can take to improve biosecurity in your apiary, the Honey Bee Producer Guide to the National Bee Farm-level Biosecurity Standard offers very detailed and complete guidance. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs also offers relevant, more concise information on biosecurity practices which can be applied in Atlantic Canada. Next week, we will return to this topic and discuss specifically how biosecurity can be incorporated into your facilities management. 

Provincial Protocols for Honey Bee Importations

Nova Scotia

New Brunswick

Prince Edward Island

Newfoundland

Reference
Canadian Food Inspection Agency. (2022). Honey Bee Producer Guide to the National Bee Farm-level Biosecurity Standard. https://inspection.canada.ca/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/biosecurity/standards-and-principles/honey-bee-producer-guide/eng/1378390483360/1378390541968

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