Scotland’s Honey Bee Health Strategy: implementation plan

Action (SMART)

Owner/lead

Priority

Progress/achievements

3.1: Undertake a mapping exercise to identify current distribution of Varroa in Scotland identifying possible areas where Varroa is currently not present.

SASA

SG-Policy

Annually

The 2023/2024 Varroa map will be updated annually or bi-annually to take into account new reports from the beekeeping community. 

3.2: Maintain a proportional and expert Bee Health Team in Scotland able to deliver statutory Bee Health activities across Scotland.

SASA 

SG-Delivery

SG-Policy

SRUC

Ongoing

Work is ongoing to maintain a fully resourced team of bee inspectors, diagnosticians and policy personnel. 

3.3: Review current EFB Control plan measures on infected apiaries to reflect evolving knowledge on EFB spread and control.

SG-Policy

Longer-term

The BHIP met in February 2024 to discuss the effectiveness of the plan, future strategy and priorities. It was agreed the plan requires work to shape it more appropriately for the future. Any changes will be evidence based and pending the results of the survey (action 4.1), the report on the economic impact (action 4.2) and the SRUC analysis report (action 4.3).

3.4:  Roll out an Annual Surveillance programme(s) (e.g. import/sentinel apiaries) potentially using self-inspections and posting of samples. This would complement the work of the bee inspectors who currently do inspections for the notifiable pest, Small Hive Beetle.

SASA

SG-Delivery

Longer-term

None.

3.5:  Surveillance of emerging non-notifiable threats and viruses which have an impact on honey bee health such as Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus.

BHIP

Ongoing

The BHIP Annual Report provides an update on the progress made.

3.6: Yellow-legged (formerly Asian) hornet (ensuring that a coordinated approach is taken with other Government departments and that additional resources are available if required).

SG-Policy

BHIP

Ongoing

Scottish Government published its Asian hornet Contingency Plan in April 2024 to tackle any incidences of this invasive insect in Scotland.

SASA staff attended an online training session with FERA lab staff; covering the process of dissecting and analysing a Yellow-legged hornet nest.

3.7: Develop Contingency Plans for Small Hive Beetle and Tropilaelaps

(ensuring that a coordinated approach is taken with other Government departments and that additional resources are available if required).

SG-Policy

BHIP

Medium-term

Contingency Plans for Small Hive Beetle and Tropilaelaps will be developed in 2025 to prepare for this threat.

3.8: To discuss who should be responsible for swarm management control in order to reduce risk of disease transmission.

BHIP

Medium-term

A short-term working group will be set-up with the aim of reaching an official position on swarm control which will then be articulated to the beekeeping community.

3.9: To run a mock exercise in Autumn 2024 to test Scottish Government’s Yellow-legged (formerly Asian) hornet Contingency Plan.

SG-Policy

SG-Delivery

Short-term

(by December 2024)

A table top exercise, named Exercise Melliseus, to test the Contingency Plan will take place on 6 December 2024. Two planning meetings have taken place and a test scenario agreed.

3.10: To develop best practice and proactive control measures before a Contingency Plan comes into action, to deal with the threat of new pests and disease for longer term pest control.  

BHIP

Medium-term

A working group to be set up to explore how to develop best practice.