Moving bees interstate

Current movement restrictions

Additional temporary restrictions to those described below are currently in place prohibiting the movement of bees, beehives, beekeeping equipment and bee products into Victoria, unless you have a permit.

Temporary pause on beekeeping permits for movements from NSW

A temporary pause is now in place on the processing of permits for hive and bee movements from New South Wales (NSW) while the risks associated with the recent detections in the NSW General Emergency Zone (GEZ) are assessed.

Permits will not be granted for bees (including queens, queen cells, bee colonies) and hives from NSW.

Permits to move beekeeping equipment and honey supers into Victoria from NSW will be considered under the ‘Additional apiary movement permit’ on the Beekeeper permits page.

For beekeepers with bees, hives, queen bees, used beekeeping equipment, pollen for bee feeding, or bee products (including honeycomb) in all other states and territories, permits for the movement into Victoria continue to be processed. A permit is required prior to the entry into Victoria.

Additionally, permits are required for moving hives that are located in the Victorian part of the Surveillance Eradication Zones (SEZs) – see below for more information.

These restrictions are specifically related to the Varroa mite incursion in NSW and do not replace the below requirements which are still current.

For more information and details on permit applications visit the Varroa mite page.

Varroa mite current situation and permits

The Livestock Disease Control Regulations 2017 specify restrictions on the introduction of:

bees
hives
used beekeeping equipment
bee products, including pollen

into Victoria from other parts of Australia.

Health requirements

All bees, bee products, bee collected pollen, used hive components and beekeeping equipment must:

be from hives free of pests and diseases including notifiable diseases
not be from a quarantine property or area
not be from an area subject to restrictions on movements imposed by other jurisdictions.

To apply to introduce bees, bee products or used beekeeping fittings into Victoria the following form, known as a 'health certificate' must be completed:

Introduction of bees, bee products, fodder or used beekeeping fittings into Victoria (WORD - 42.4 KB)

A Multiple Shipment Health Certificate is now available for queen bee producers who are seeking to introduce multiple queens to Victoria.

All queens covered under the single certificate, must be shipped within the specified one-month period, and the destination details for all person’s receiving the queens must be provided with the application.

If you have any queries regarding multiple shipment health certificates contact honeybee.biosecurity@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Introduction of bees, bee products, fodder or used beekeeping fittings into Victoria – Multiple Shipment (WORD - 50.4 KB)

For apiaries with 50 or more hives

You must now provide a honey culture test together with your health certificate application that is no greater than 12 months old.

Pollen used for feeding bees

You must provide an invoice or together with your health certificate to prove the pollen has been gamma irradiated at a minimum of 15 kilogray before its introduction to Victoria.

If irradiation is to occur immediately after introduction you must provide proof with your application.

In addition, there are conditions related to specific diseases and jurisdictions.

American foulbrood disease (AFB)

There are strict controls on importing items from hives affected by AFB into Victoria.

The following items must not be imported:

bees, including queen cells, queen bees, escorts and packaged bees
bee products.

The following items may only be imported after approval is granted by Agriculture Victoria and if labelled and treated as required:

honey and beeswax must be sent directly to a processing plant
pollen and used beekeeping fittings must be gamma irradiated at an approved plant.

The following form must be completed to seek approval before the introduction of any items from hives affected by AFB. Evidence of required treatments must be provided together with your application:

Certification: Introduction of materials from a hive affected by American foulbrood disease into Victoria (WORD - 43.7 KB)

Important timelines

Health certificates must not be issued retrospectively for bees, bee products, pollen or used beekeeping fittings that have already entered Victoria.

An approved certificate must be provided to Agriculture Victoria:

one month or less before the introduction into Victoria of the bees, bee products, pollen or used beekeeping fittings or
four months or less before the introduction into Victoria of a queen bee, escorts, queen cell or packaged bees.

Enquiries and where to submit completed health certificate application

All enquiries and completed application forms should be sent to honeybee.biosecurity@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Providing copies of the approved health certificate

A person who introduces any bees, bee products, pollen or used beekeeping fittings into Victoria must ensure that a copy of the certificate

accompanies the bees, bee products, pollen or used beekeeping fittings, and
is given to the consignee specified in the certificate.

Movement of bees, bee products and used beekeeping equipment outside of Victoria

Each state or territory has their own requirements for the movement of bees, bee products and used beekeeping equipment.

The most up-to-date information about entry conditions, approval forms and requirements is on the government website of the state and territory you are seeking entry to.

If you are still unsure please contact an Apiary Officer at honeybee.biosecurity@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Page last updated: 12 Sep 2023