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

Tips and Reminders for Buying Bees

This week’s blog post features some key tips and reminders for buying bees…because what better thing to spend money on?! We couldn’t think of anything either! Keep reading below for information on the different types of honey bees and colonies available for purchase (i.e., nucs, packages and entire hives), what is involved in buying bees, who to buy from and who NOT to buy from, and registration requirements.

Valentine’s Day is coming up this Sunday and what sweeter thing to talk about than honey! Like a good love, honey is sweet, natural, and can help heal wounds. Honey has been used in wound care practices since ancient times, thanks to its natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. See below to find out more about the healing powers of honey. 

Tips and Reminders for Buying Bees

Buying bees is exciting but it is important to make sure that the decisions you make throughout the purchasing process are well-informed and will set you up for success. There are three main ways for beekeepers to purchase bees: as nucleus colonies (‘nucs’), as packages, and as full colonies. Each purchasing option has varying availability from season to season, and its own set of pros and cons depending on the planned purpose of your future bees. Comparing availability: nucs are typically available after blueberry pollination from beekeepers from May to July; packages of bees are available before blueberry pollination from suppliers around early April; and full colonies are available throughout the year from beekeepers. Although these options are typically ‘available’ at certain times of the year, it is important to communicate with sellers well ahead of time to confirm availability and cost to get your orders in and reserve your bees. When choosing an option for buying bees, there are many considerations to keep in mind, including disease and pest transfer, biosecurity, equipment requirements and cost. Here are 5 quick tips from ATTTA to ensure the bees you are purchasing are healthy and disease free:

1. Know the brood diseases and know what healthy brood should look like
2. Check the inspection report; sellers MUST have this to be able to sell bees in Nova Scotia
3. Make sure your apiary is ready for new bees (e.g., equipment, feed, space, etc.)
4. Shadow an experienced beekeeper to gain insight on region specific management practices
5. Keep good records to track successes and make sure you are supporting colony health 

For a comprehensive breakdown of the pros and cons associated with each purchasing option, and more tips on choosing a seller and purchasing bees, check out ATTTA’s Spring Honey Bee Management Guide.

After you’ve purchased your bees, the next step is to make sure you are properly registered as a beekeeper according to your provincial beekeeping regulations. Registration requirements and beekeeping regulations vary from province to province, so it is important to make sure you are following the regulations specific to the province where you are keeping bees. Please refer to provincial websites for more information on registration requirements. Also, please note that importing bees from outside of your province requires additional application and approval processes not covered in this post.

Nova Scotia beekeeper registration requirements

New Brunswick beekeeper registration requirements

There is currently no beekeeper registration requirement in the province of PEI

Bee...my honey, you are now my first love - A whimsical review*

In this recent publication by surgeon and wound care expert, Amit Kumar C Jain, medical and symbolic applications of honey throughout history are explained and extend to reason how, to this day, honey remains a medically advantageous prescription for the treatment of many wounds. Honey has a long record of being used for various applications since ancient times and is considered to be the nectar of gods. In ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, honey was a common treatment for wounds and intestinal issues. The exact composition of honey varies depending on the source, but generally is made up of water, sugars (especially fructose and glucose), proteins, vitamins (e.g., vitamin B complexes and vitamin C), and minerals (e.g., Zinc, Calcium, etc.). Honey is an acidic substance with pH between 3.4 and 6.1, however, the level of acidity varies depending on the composition. Honey's acidity and hygroscopic effect, thanks to its high sugar content, work together to offer the antimicrobial properties of honey that are being implemented in modern day medical wound care treatments. Honey inhibits growth of approximately 60 species of bacteria and is known to sterilize wounds in 7-10 days from the initial treatment. This honey used for medical purposes has undergone gamma irradiation, which sterilizes the honey without affecting its physicochemical properties, and labels it as 'medical grade'. In studies comparing the antimicrobial properties of honey to other antimicrobial agents, honey was found to be the superior treatment option and has been observed to be the more effective option in the treatment of stubborn biofilms and non-healing wounds. Beyond its antimicrobial properties, honey is also known to have good anti-inflammatory properties. Dr. Amit Kumar C Jain concludes his thoughts on the medical uses of honey with the statement, "With many benefits of this god's nectar, there is no doubt that honey is my first love in wound care with other wound care products being second choice, especially when there is multi-resistant bacterial infection in biofilms." *

* Jain, A. K. (2021). Bee…my honey, you are now my first love – A whimsical review, Medicine Science, full text available online.

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