5B-54.011. Apiary Inspection Procedures

(1) Each Florida apiary shall be inspected and issued an Apiary Inspection Report (FDACS-08206, revised 12/17) by an authorized representative of the department. This inspection shall include a visual examination of the hives for detection of honey bee pests listed in Rule 5B-54.003, F.A.C., and unwanted races of honey bees in Rule 5B-54.004, F.A.C. Apiary Inspection Report, FDACS-08206, revised 12/17 is incorporated herein by reference and a sample may be obtained online at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-09151.

(2) Inspection of an apiary shall include actual visual inspection of not less than five (5) percent of the colonies included in the apiary. One hundred (100) percent of the colonies may be inspected if determined appropriate by the department. A minimum of ten (10) colonies shall be inspected in the apiary with all colonies inspected in any apiary consisting of less than ten (10) colonies.

(3) Maintenance of apiary site. Each apiary site shall be maintained in such a manner as to allow reasonable access for inspection. Colonies must be arranged so that the inspection functions can be performed. The owner or designated representative shall be notified by the department if the conditions of the site are such that an inspection cannot reasonably be performed.

(4) Movable frame hives. The keeping of honey bees in containers without movable frames by a beekeeper is prohibited. Beekeepers found utilizing hives without movable frames will be rquired to transfer the bees to a movable frame hive or to destroy the colony.

(5) Top bar hives. The owner is responsible for facilitating the movement of the comb during an inspection.

(6) Queen certification shall be validated annually by sampling each mother line.

Rulemaking Authority 586.10(2) FS. Law Implemented 586.10(3)(a) FS. History–New 11-22-88, Amended 11-4-92, 6-20-00, 1-1-14, 3-27-18.