Beekeeper permits

Varroa mite update

Beekeepers who have moved hives under permit must continue to report any bee movements to Agriculture Victoria, regularly test bees for Varroa and follow the requirements of the Control Area Order and permits.

This page will continue to be updated as the transition to management plan progresses.

Permits required for movement of bees and bee products

Anyone bringing bees and bee products into Victoria from any state or territory needs a permit. The products includes

  • hives
  • queen bees
  • used beekeeping equipment
  • pollen for bee feeding, and
  • bee products (including honeycomb)

Information for permits to move hives into Victoria

Victorian registered beekeepers may apply for a permit to move hives into Victoria.

Permit applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and permits. Permits may be issued if the applicant meets

  • specific training
  • hive testing requirements and
  • traceability requirements.

Interstate registered beekeepers, with hives who have not been in New South Wales since 1 January 2021, may apply for a permit to move hives into Victoria.

Permit applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and permits issued if the applicant meets

  • specific training,
  • hive testing requirements and
  • traceability requirements.

Permit approvals for interstate registered beekeepers, with hives that have been in NSW since 1 January 2021, will be paused as a national transition to management plan is developed.

As the situation evolves, Victoria will continue to regularly reassess restrictions on the movement of hives, queens, bee products and used fittings.

Before applying for a permit, beekeepers should ensure they understand, and are able to fulfil specified permit conditions.

Information on permits and conditions

More information about permits and permit conditions is available under permits section of Varroa mite frequently asked questions.

Your responsibility

It is your responsibility to stay up to date with current movement requirements before moving your bees and related items. The health of our bee populations relies on your responsible actions.

Health certificates required

Remember that a health certificate must also be obtained for all movements of bees, bee products, and used fittings (beekeeping equipment) into Victoria. This step helps ensure the health and safety of our bee populations. Find the health certificate form and requirements on Moving bees interstate.

Contact us

If you have any questions or need assistance with permits, please feel free to reach out to us:

Your support in following these measures is greatly appreciated as we work together to protect our valuable beekeeping industry and the health of our bees.

Bee and hive movement permits

Victorian Registered Beekeepers

Apply for this permit if you are a Victorian Registered Beekeeper wanting to move hives from all other states and territories into Victoria (single movement).

Apply now

Interstate Registered Beekeepers

Apply for this permit if you are an interstate Registered Beekeeper wanting to move hives from another state or territory into Victoria (single movement).

Apply now

Apiary equipment movement permits

Permit to move full honey supers only

Apply for this permit if you are a Registered Beekeeper wanting to move full honey supers from all other states and territories into Victoria.

Apply now

Permit to move used equipment only

Apply for this permit if you are a Registered Beekeeper wanting to move used equipment from all other states and territories into Victoria.

Apply now

Permit to move extracted frames only

Apply for this permit if you are a Registered Beekeeper wanting to move extracted frames from all other states and territories into Victoria.

Apply now

Honey, honeycomb, wax and pollen movements

Permit to move honeycomb, unprocessed beeswax or pollen

Apply for this permit if you are a Registered Beekeeper wanting to move honeycomb, unprocessed beeswax or pollen from all other states and territories into Victoria.

Apply now

Permit to move unprocessed honey

Apply for this permit if you are a Registered Beekeeper wanting to move unprocessed honey from all other states and territories into Victoria.

Apply now

Processed honey and wax

A permit is not required to move processed honey or wax into Victoria.

Processed honey is defined as; any honey that has undergone extraction, filtering to remove wax cappings and dead bees), decanting into clean containers and packaging in a facility which is inaccessible to bees.

Processed wax is defined as any wax that has undergone melting, filtering (to remove bees, brood, debris), rendering, packing into clean containers and packaging in a facility which is inaccessible to bees.

Queen bee movements

Moving queens from another state or territory into Victoria

Apply for this permit if you are a Registered Beekeeper breeding queens, wanting to move queens from another other state or territory into Victoria.

Apply for this permit

Surveillance emergency zone hive movement permits

As of 30 August 2023, permits were available for beekeepers located in the Victorian part of former Surveillance Emergency Zones with epicentres at Euston and Balranald. These permits were developed to facilitate exit or movement of hives within the zones, and these movements are now complete. Permit holders must still continue to comply with permit requirements.

If you have questions regarding hives currently or previously in these zones, please contact honeybee.permits@agriculture.vic.gov.au

The following approval is required to be published online to enable Victoria to accept livestock and livestock products from NSW under the permit system.

Livestock Disease Control Regulations 2017

Regulation 53

APPROVAL

To: Persons who introduce into Victoria bees, bee products, pollen or used beekeeping fittings from an apiary that is under the laws of the State or Territory of the Commonwealth in which the apiary is located—

  1. in a quarantine area in respect of Varroosis (Varroa destructor); or
  2. in an area subject to restrictions on the movement of bees, bee products, pollen or beekeeping fittings due to Varroosis.

For the purposes of regulation 53 of the Livestock Disease Control Regulations 2017, I –

  1. am satisfied that the introduction of the bees, bee products, pollen or used beekeeping fittings into Victoria is unlikely to lead to the transmission of Varroosis from the bees, bee products, pollen or used beekeeping fittings to other livestock or humans; and
  2. approve the moving of bees, bee products, pollen or used beekeeping fittings from a State or Territory where Varroosis is present into Victoria, subject to the conditions of movement specified below.

This approval commences on the day that it is signed and has effect until the Livestock Disease Control Amendment Regulations 2024 are made.

Rosa Crnov
Chief Plant Health Officer, Biosecurity Victoria

Date: 15 January 2024

Conditions of Movement

  1. The person has been issued a permit by an inspector under section 30 of the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 which allows the movement of livestock, livestock products, or fittings into Victoria; and
  2. The person complies with any conditions set out in the permit.
Page last updated: 16 Jan 2024