Scotland’s Honey Bee Health Strategy: implementation plan
Details of the actions which the Bee Health Improvement Partnership (BHIP) will deliver in order to achieve the desired outcomes for honey bee health in Scotland.
Completed actions
Action (SMART) |
Owner/lead |
Achievements |
To develop a Scottish specific training package on Varroa containing Scottish specific Varroa management guidance e.g. treatments most suitable for using in Scotland/ advice on timings for these treatments/ correct use, disposal, and efficacy of Varroa treatments. |
SRUC (under the Varroa Working Group) |
The Scottish Varroa Learning Package was published in Autumn 2024 and is available to download from BeeBase. |
To develop an implementation plan for delivery of Varroa training package across Scotland. |
SRUC |
Varroa Learning Package promoted on social media, at the SBA Conference and an article in the SBA magazine as per the Implementation Plan. |
To re-instate Bee Health Days. |
SG-Policy SG-Delivery SASA SRUC BHIP reps |
Hobbyist Bee Health Day took place on 17 June 2023 in Coatbridge. In 2024, the Bee Health Day took place on 6 July at the SRUC Aberdeen Campus.
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To trial a local association led Bee Health Day event with support from the SRUC Bee Health Advisor. |
SRUC |
The first association-led event was held on 17 August 2024 at Dunblane and Stirling Beekeepers Association. Other associations have expressed interest in holding an event.
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Liaison with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Food Standards Scotland regarding misuse of medicines and potential residues in Honey. In addition, the availability of effective medications for honey bees and review how to optimise treatments for use in Scotland and be most efficient in management techniques (including discussions prior to removing any approved medication and what replacement products will be available). |
SG-Policy |
Veterinary medicine and medicinal residue in honey is reserved to VMD. SG Honey Bee Health Team provided field information to the FSS and VMD to guide their policy. Routes to report any concerns or intelligence on misuse have been provided to Scottish beekeepers. |
Develop communications and liaise with other interested parties (e.g. FSS, honey importers and packers), highlighting:
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BHIP |
Issue raised with Food Standards Scotland and Local Authorities, as well as issue of medicinal residues with the VMD. |
To produce a heat map which shows our current understanding of the distribution of the EFB in Scotland to highlight where particular care should be taken when moving bees in or out of the affected area. |
SG-Policy SG-Delivery SASA |
The heat map can be found on BeeBase. |
Communication of the EFB heat map to the beekeeping community with guidance recommending actions beekeepers can take to help minimise spread of the disease. |
BHIP |
In 2024, the heat map appeared in the June edition of the SBA, BFA and BeeCraft magazines. It is also published on BeeBase, SG’s Bee Health pages, ScotGov Rural social media and SBA social media channels. Thornes agreed to distribute copies in their parcels to purchasers based in Scotland as well as giving them to customers in their Newburgh shop. The heat map was the topical focus for the SG stand in the honey tent at the Royal Highland Show in June 2024. |
To ensure SASA are officially designated as a UK Official Laboratory for honey bee health and authorised to conduct analysis, tests and diagnosis for official controls and other official activities purposes. |
SG-Policy SASA
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Following a successful application by the Scottish Government, the UK Chief Veterinary Officer confirmed that with effect from 7 September 2023, SASA was officially designated as a UK Official Laboratory for honey bee health.
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Contact
Email: Bees_mailbox@gov.scot
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