Honey Bee Compensation and Industry Development Fund

Victoria's Honey Bee Compensation and Industry Development Fund (HBCIDF) is established under the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 1994 (the Act) and funded from registration fees.

Registration fees for Victorian Beekeepers are as follows:

For beekeepers with up to 5 hives:

• no charge, if you register online
• $30 if you register and pay using the paper application form

For beekeepers with more than 5 hives:

• $30 to register 6 to 50 hives
• 60 cents per hive to register 51 or more hives

In accordance with Section 67(3) of the Act, the Minister for Agriculture may make payments from the HBCIDF for the following:

• administering the provisions of the Act relating to bees, from the capital of the Fund derived from registration fees
• programs and projects for the improvement and development of the apicultural industry in Victoria.

These payments can only be made once the Minister for Agriculture has considered recommendations from the Apicultural Industry Advisory Committee.

Apicultural Industry Advisory Committee (AIAC)

Under section 70(3) of the Act the AIAC consists of a up to 9 members appointed by the Minister for Agriculture. Members are selected for their skills and experience with the apicultural industry, consistent with the prescribed skills under section 70(3) of the Act.

The AIAC currently consists of 6 members:

• Ms Angela Enbom (chairperson)
• Ms Gail Rochelmeyer
• Mr Marc Higgins
• Mr Peter McDonald
• Mr Joe Riordan
• Ms Monique Leane

Grant applications are now closed

Applications for the 2025 Livestock Biosecurity Funds grant program were open between 7 March 2025 and 14 April 2025.

2024 Livestock Biosecurity Funds grant round

A total of 3 project applications were successful in receiving HBCIDF funding. These include:

• eDNA approaches for early detection and management of varroa mite
• Hemp seed as a feed supplement for managed honey bee populations
• Online educational resource for beekeepers.

Summary of HBCIDF projects

• HBCIDF – Summary of projects 2023–24 (PDF - 1.0 MB)
• HBCIDF – Summary of projects 2023–24 - accessible (WORD - 3.5 MB)
• HBCIDF – Summary of projects 2022–23 (PDF - 96.7 KB)
• HBCIDF – Summary of projects 2022–23 (WORD - 194.8 KB)

For information on past projects, please email LivestockBiosecurityFund@agriculture.vic.gov.au