Importing bees into Scotland: guidance

Post-import Controls

These controls are aimed at reducing the risk of the introduction and spread of exotic bee pests, in particular Small hive beetle and Tropilaelaps mite (which are notifiable in the UK). When you receive a consignment of imported honey bees you must:

1. Transfer the queens to new queen cages before they are introduced to any local colonies

2. Send the original cages, attendant worker bees and other material that accompanied the queen bees from their country of origin to SASA (Bee Health – Imports, SASA, Roddinglaw Road, Edinburgh, EH12 9FJ) within 5 days of receipt for examination for the presence of the Small hive beetle and Tropilaelaps mite.

Prior to sending queen cages, attendant bees and other material for examination, please ensure all material is contained within a sealable plastic bag and (where possible) store in a freezer overnight, or until ready to post. Please retain the material in this sealed bag, package it securely in a rigid box, and send to SASA along with your contact details and the CHED reference number (found on part I of the CHED form).

Bee packages from New Zealand are subject to a percentage check (depending on the quantity imported) at the destination apiary. 

You must destroy the container in which any colony of imported bumble bees was transported and all material that accompanied the bees either during or immediately at the end of the lifespan of the imported colony.