Today I am writing to you to provide another update in the response to Varroa mite, Braula fly and the subsequent changes effective immediately relating to the current Queensland border with other states and territories.
This may be a lengthy email so please accept my apologies however there is much to update you on today.
Situation Overview
The following are the key details relating to a number of new announcements today. I have detailed the key facts within the body of this email.
- The Queensland Government have established a new biosecurity zone to protect the industry from varroa mite.
- The new biosecurity zone covers the entire state of Queensland.
- Beekeepers from other states or territories declared free of varroa mite can enter Queensland without a permit providing they comply with the requirements in NSW to move hives through the state.
- Braula Fly (Bee louse) is no longer considered to be a prohibited matter. Braula fly is now a notifiable pest under the Qld Biosecurity regulations.
- Processed honey or beeswax, new and unused apiary appliances, and quarantine secured diagnostic honey samples for testing at a recognised diagnostic facility can continue to enter Queensland.
- Queensland based beekeepers may now accept queen bee consignments sent from Victoria and any other state found to be free from varroa.
- The movement of queen bees from NSW into Queensland continues to be strictly prohibited. Permits and Conditions are being developed in collaboration with other jurisdictions. This is the next priority for the jurisdictional cross agency response working group.
New Biosecurity Zone in Queensland
The Queensland Government have now established a new biosecurity zone in Queensland. This change removes the previous Movement Control Order which served as the statutory document that enforced the closure of Queensland borders.
From today, beekeepers and supplies of queen bees from states or territories declared free from varroa may recommence the movement of livestock on the provision the beekeeper migrating bees or sending a consignment of queens meets the requirements for moving bees through NSW.
If you're intention is to transport bees from VIC through NSW you are required to check the requirements relating to the movement of hives with NSW DPI.
Just like the border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, please ensure you are meeting the requirements of the jurisdiction where the bees are currently located and where they may be migrated too.
Changes to the Queensland Border with New South Wales
As the QBA communicated in a recent email, the NSW blue 'general' biosecurity zone was recently declared to be 'free' from varroa by other state jurisdictions after careful consideration of the area of freedom report. Click here to read the update from AHBIC.
This change in the status of the blue zone now provides a means for beekeepers to migrate honey bee colonies under a strict permit and compliance arrangement across the Queensland/New South Wales border. Any beekeepers considering their options to migrate bees is strongly encouraged to visit the DAF E-hub (click here) to learn more about the application process and speak with a representative from Biosecurity Queensland (call 13 25 23).
Any beekeeper wishing to move hives the NSW general biosecurity zone to Queensland must complete an application for an entry permit. Please click on the link below to learn more about this permit.
Any beekeeper planning to move will need to wait until they have received an approved permit application and meet all conditions associated with the issue of the permit.
Queens from New South Wales
At the time of writing this email, queen bees are not permitted to be migrated from NSW across the QLD border.
The QBA is continuing to consult with Biosecurity Queensland and it is our understanding that the interstate jurisdiction working group will be meeting to discuss this priority for the greater honey bee industry.
Heavy penalties are in place in both NSW and QLD if non-compliant activity is identified and potentially prosecuted.
We respect the increasing appetite to access breeder queens, queen bee consignments, and queen cells from NSW. Please be patient as the states agencies work through this matter. We have advocated for this matter to be the next priority for the interstate working group. As soon as agreement has been reached on the harmonisation of queen movements, the QBA will communicate all updates as a matter of priority to our members.
Braula fly and movement of hives and queens from Victoria
Queen bee breeders from Victoria and Queensland will be pleased to hear the temporary movement control order relating to the Braula fly detection in Victoria and the later announcement of the louse being declared 'endemic' has now been removed.
Biosecurity Queensland initiated a change in the regulations to the Biosecurity Act effective today. This change in the regulations reclassifies the louse from 'restricted matter' to 'notifiable pest' under the changes to the regulations. Beekeepers should already be familiar with requirements for reporting American Foul Brood to Biosecurity Queensland as it too is classified as a notifiable disease.
To report any notifiable pest or disease, please call 13 25 23.
Media Release from Minister Mark Furner
The news of the changes today was initially released via a media release from Minister Furner and the QBA. If you would like to read the release, please click here to download a copy.
Again I extend my apologies for the lengthy nature of this email. The information contained in this email will be condensed into a document and posted to our Varroa Mite Portal for ease of access in the future.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me and I will endeavour to answer or direct you to the appropriate authority.
Kind regards,
Jo Martin
QBA State Secretary
