Table Of ContentAnimal Biosecurity
Honey Bee Producer Guide to the National
Bee Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard
Acknowledgments
CANADIAN HONEY COUNCIL
MANITOBA FORAGE SEED ASSOCIATION
SASKATCHEWAN LEAFCUTTERS ASSOCIATION
ALFALFA SEED COMMISSION (ALBERTA)
CANADIAN HORTICULTURE COUNCIL
KOPPERT CANADA LTD
BIOBEST CANADA LTD
© 2013 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada
(Canadian Food Inspection Agency), all rights reserved.
Use without permission is prohibited.
CFIA P0864E-13
Catalogue No.: A104-107/1-2013E
ISBN: 978-1-100-21927-1
Table of Contents
About This Document ......................................................................................... 3
Why a National Standard? ......................................................................................................3
Value of the Canadian Bee Industry.........................................................................................3
Who is this document for? .....................................................................................................3
What is biosecurity and why is it important? ............................................................................4
What are the benefts? ..........................................................................................................4
Document development .........................................................................................................4
How should this document be used? .......................................................................................5
Glossary ............................................................................................................ 7
Summary Of Target Outcomes ............................................................................ 11
1.0 Bee Health Management ................................................................................................ 11
2.0 Operations Management ................................................................................................. 11
Section 1: Bee Health Management ................................................................... 13
1.1 Bee Sources ................................................................................................................. 13
1.2 Prevention: Minimizing Susceptibility to Pests ................................................................... 19
1.3 Prevention: Minimizing Exposure ..................................................................................... 27
1.4 Diagnoses and Monitoring .............................................................................................. 35
1.5 Standard Response Plan ................................................................................................. 40
1.6 Elevated Response Plan ................................................................................................. 45
Section 2: Operations Management .................................................................... 50
2.1 Obtaining Production Inputs ........................................................................................... 50
2.2 Handling and Disposal of Production Inputs ...................................................................... 53
2.3 Obtaining Bee Equipment ............................................................................................... 56
2.4 Management and Maintenance of Bee Equipment, Dead Bees, and Bee Products ...................... 60
2.5 Personal Sanitation ....................................................................................................... 66
2.6 Design of Facilities ........................................................................................................ 68
2.7 Maintenance of Premises, Buildings, Vehicles and Other Equipment ....................................... 72
2.8 Control of Weeds and Nuisance Pests ................................................................................ 76
2.9 Training and Education .................................................................................................. 81
Appendix A – Provincial Contact Information ..................................................... 86
Appendix B – Additional Resources ................................................................... 87
Appendix C – Honey Bee Operating Steps .......................................................... 90
Appendix D – Diagnosis and Monitoring Methods:
Main Pests Affecting Honey Bees ................................................ 108
Appendix E – Honey Bee Biosecurity: Self Evaluation Checklist ......................... 115
Appendix F – Equipment, Storage, and Extraction Facility:
Cleaning and Disinfection .......................................................... 124
Appendix G – Sample Record Keeping .............................................................. 127
Appendix H – BeeBAC Members and Project Advisors ........................................ 154
About This Document
Why a National Standard? Value of the Canadian Bee Industry
The National Bee Farm-level Biosecurity Standard CANPOLIN, the Canadian Pollination Initiative1
forms the basis of a comprehensive voluntary identifes Canada as the world’s 12th largest
program designed to provide practical guidance producer of honey. The 2010 Canadian honey
for owners or managers involved in the three crop was valued at $146 million. An estimated
main Canadian bee sectors: honey bees, alfalfa 35,000 tonnes were produced by nearly
leafcutting bees, and bumblebees. The Standard 7700 beekeepers2. Average honey production
was developed in partnership with representatives in Canada is about 60 kg per hive, which is more
from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), than twice the world average. Bee products
the Canadian Honey Council (CHC) – on behalf of (e.g. wax) and sales of bees and equipment are
provincial beekeeping and honey producer asso- also important economic contributors.
ciations – provincial apiarists, and the Canadian
In addition to the value of Canadian honey
Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA).
and bee products, many crops are reliant on
The objective of a National Standard is to provide pollination by managed bee species. Canada has
a consistent, country-wide approach to the seen rapid growth in pollination-dependent
implementation of biosecurity practices for both crops such as canola, fruits, and vegetables.
small- and large-scale operations. The development The annual contribution of honey bee pollination
of farm-level biosecurity standards is a national to crop value is estimated at $1.3 to $1.7 billion
initiative within and across agriculture industries, annually, which is 10 to 20 times that of honey.2
including both animals and plants. Beekeeping was
identifed as a priority sector for the development
of a voluntary farm-level biosecurity Standard. Who is this document for?
The National Standard has been developed as
a tool for all people and businesses handling
and keeping bees. This Producer Guide provides
practical guidance to honey beekeepers on how
a series of target outcomes, associated with
each topic covered by the National Standard,
may be achieved.
1 M elhimA, Weersink A, Daly Z, and Bennett B. (2010).
Beekeeping in Canada: Honey and Pollination Outlook.
CANPOLIN publication #6.
2 Statistics Canada Catalogue 23-221-X.
Honey Bee Producer Guide to the National Bee Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard 3
• reduced losses and economic impacts
What is biosecurity and
from pests
why is it important?
• reduced risk of exposure, introduction,
Farm-level biosecurity is a series of management
and spread of pests
practices that are designed to minimize the
introduction and spread of disease-causing • saving time and money on treatments
pathogens, parasites, insect pests, and predators and pest management
(referred to collectively as “pests”) onto, within, • improved domestic and international market-
and beyond the farm. ability of honey bees and bee products
An effective biosecurity program is based • possible continuation or early resumption
on the understanding and application of of inter-provincial and international trade
measures to minimize the transmission of pests in the event of a serious outbreak
in animal and plant populations, including
• a marketing advantage if selling used
their introduction (bioexclusion), spread within
equipment or providing pollination services
the populations (biomanagement), and release
• improved treatment effcacy and pest-
(biocontainment). When a component of the
management effectiveness
program has a weakness, or where biosecurity
measures are not fully implemented, it provides • reduced chance of developing
a route by which pests might enter or remain treatment resistance
in a bee population.
• reduced chance of devastation from
The risk of exposure of healthy bees to introducing a new biosecurity risk
pests occurs when infected or infested bees,
contaminated equipment, or feed are introduced
to an operation. This can occur through
Document development
intentional introductions or unintentional
mixing of bees from other operations. Within an This program is based on clear and scientifcally
operation, pests can be spread through handling justifed principles. It details a range of measures
or sharing of water, feed and pollen sources. that are intended to prevent pests from entering
Training, monitoring, preventative management or leaving a location where bees are kept.
practices (including equipment and facility The Producer Guide addresses management
design), and timely treatment interventions are practices that promote general bee health.
necessary to mitigate these risks.
Background work for the National Bee Farm-Level
Biosecurity Standard and this Producer Guide
prioritized those biosecurity interventions with the
What are the benefts? greatest impact on risk reduction and the spread
of contagious pests. A set of target outcomes were
Some of the benefts of enhanced biosecurity
developed with signifcant contributions from
management to the industry and individual honey
representatives of the various beekeeping sectors,
beekeeping operations may be
including the Bee Biosecurity Advisory Committee
• improved food security through the supply (BeeBAC), whose membership represents all
of healthy crop pollinators potential users of this document. The Committee
• better honey production and pollination identifed areas of practical, effective controls,
by stronger colonies using an objective impartial approach that drew
4 About This Document
on published research, existing regulations, Each section is subsequently divided into
recognized management practice manuals, subsections, introduced by a statement of
and treatment recommendations. Target Outcomes. Each Target Outcome
represents a goal for all those who manage bees:
Development of this Producer Guide involved
achieve what is necessary to protect their bees
participation, consultation, and review from
from the introduction and spread of pests.
• all provincial apiarists
Each Target Outcome is followed by
• the Canadian Honey Council that represents
• a detailed description of the biosecurity
the provincial beekeeping associations
topic, including key terms;
• other Members of BeeBAC representing the
• an explanation of the risks associated with
research and academic community
the subtopic;
• CFIA’s Offce of Animal Biosecurity
• a statement of the benefts to the beekeeper,
Direct honey beekeeper input was
if the recommended practices are followed;
achieved through
• recommended practices to reduce exposure
• a series of on-farm case studies. or otherwise mitigate the impact of these
• a comprehensive management practice risks; and
benchmark consultation. All identifed active • suggested record-keeping processes
honey beekeepers in Canada were invited
The end of the document includes a number
to participate. Over 600 honey beekeepers
of annexes, one of which is a self-evaluation
(10% of over 6000 beekeepers) participated.
checklist for use in identifying those Target
• selected participation in the draft Producer
Outcomes that are being effectively addressed,
Guide document review team.
as well as potential areas for implementing
biosecurity practices in a beekeeping operation.
Another offers sample record-keeping
How should this document be used? spreadsheets. Annual beekeeping cycle and
monitoring diagrams related to biosecurity
The Canadian honey bee industry is a broad
practices are provided as visual reminders
target audience, consisting of the hobbyist,
of how these practices ft in with an
large-scale commercial honey producers, and
operation. In addition, there are contact
custom pollinators. Understandably not all
and resource lists for additional information
of the principles in this Producer Guide will
that is relevant to farm-level bee biosecurity,
be applicable or practical for every situation.
some regionally specifc.
Keeping this in mind, the National Bee Farm-
Level Biosecurity Standard Honey Bee Producer The glossary defnes certain terms that are used
Guide has been organized into two sections: within the text.
• Bee Health Management
• Operations Management
Honey Bee Producer Guide to the National Bee Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard 5
All who manage bees should address biosecurity in
each component of their operation. For those who
are new to the concept of biosecurity, for those
with limited resources, or in instances wherein
it is impractical or applicable to fully achieve
each of the target outcomes, the Producer Guide
provides a set of examples of practices that can
be implemented to meet the Target Outcomes.
The honey bee industry is dynamic. New strategies,
products, and techniques to combat pests will
undoubtedly evolve as the science behind managing
bees continues to advance. New biosecurity risks
will emerge. Therefore, consider this document
a living document. The basic principles described
in this Producer Guide will apply into the
future. It is the responsibility of beekeepers to
continually update their knowledge and consider
current regulation and recommendations when
implementing biosecurity management practices
within their operation.
6 About This Document
Glossary
The following defnes the general terms used Bee yard: See apiary
throughout this Producer Guide.
Biological control: Means of controlling a
Apiary: The location and sum total of colonies, pest with another organism; for example through
hives, and other equipment assembled at one predation, parasitism, or with a pathogen.
site for beekeeping operations.
Biosecurity: Farm-level biosecurity refers
Bee equipment: Any structure, material, to a set of practices used to minimize the
or enclosure and its related components that are transmission of pests in animal and plant
provided by the beekeeper to protect and house populations, including their introduction
bees, referred to as the (bee) hive. Includes the (bioexclusion), spread within the populations
box or hive body, hive cover(s), bottom boards, (biomanagement), and release (biocontainment).
and the brood chamber frames, and honey
super frames that are contained within the Biosecurity program: A risk-reduction
box. Hive equipment may also include the program that conforms to CFIA national standards
queen excluder, bee escape board, foundation, and is designed to prevent the introduction and
and feeders. spread of pests in bee operations.
Beekeeper: A generic term used to identify Biosecurity risk: An activity, condition,
anyone who owns or is in possession of bees; or situation that, without mitigation, increases the
utilizes pollination services; handles bees, risk of potential introduction or spread of a hazard
related bee equipment, production inputs and in the form of a pathogen, parasite, or insect pest.
outputs, as well as waste material. The person
Biosecurity standard: A high-level
may be the owner/operator, a trained beekeeper,
consistent set of principles and target outcomes
staff, or family member.
that apply to all beekeepers (honey, leafcutting,
Bee industry authority: A provincial and bumblebees) at the farm level. The goal
apiarist, bee inspector, veterinarian, or regulating of the Standard is to minimize the introduction
authority, including the CFIA or Health Canada’s and spread of pests onto a farm, within a farm,
Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). and beyond the farm.
Bee operation: All aspects of the beekeeping, Brood: For the purposes of this document,
bee-product production, and pollination operations brood refers to the embryo or egg, and the larval
for which the beekeeper is responsible, regardless and pupal stages in initial honey bee development.
of where the bees are placed; comparable to the
“farm” in other types of agriculture.
Honey Bee Producer Guide to the National Bee Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard 7
Building: Any indoor facility used in the with a disinfecting agent, such as bleach,
beekeeping operation, including storage, or by treatments including heat, irradiation,
maintenance, over-wintering bees, and or fumigation in conjunction with cleaning.
processing honey or other bee products.
Effcacy: The effectiveness of an intervention
Chemical control: Means of controlling or treatment in suppressing or eliminating a pest.
a pest, using chemical-based control products,
Elevated response plan: A farm-level
including acids, acaricides (miticides),
intervention plan that is triggered by the
pharmaceutical treatments, and disinfectants.
suspected or confrmed presence of a high-risk,
Chemical-control programs encompass applicable
exotic, or unfamiliar pest within the bee operation,
treatment rotation plans and the timing
local area, or country.
of treatment applications.
Endemic: Pests that are regularly re-occurring
Clean: Free of any visible accumulation
or whose causative agent is established within
of organic matter and debris or other residues.
a region or population.
Also, refer to disinfection and sanitation.
Exotic: Infectious pests that normally do not
Colony: Typically an aggregate of several
occur in the region, either because they have
thousand worker bees, drones, and a queen bee
never been present there or because they were
living together in a hive or in any other dwelling
eradicated and then kept out by government
as one social unit. Also, refer to Nucleus Colony.
control measures or agricultural practices.
Contaminated: The presence of a pathogen,
Farm/farm level: Refer to Bee Operation.
living parasite, or insect pest on a surface
or in debris that may be transmitted directly Federally reportable and notifable:
or indirectly to a living host organism A legal requirement to contact the CFIA if
(i.e. bee or brood).
a specifed reportable bee disease, caused
by a pathogen, parasite, or insect pest, is
Cultural method: A non-chemical method
suspected or if the diagnosis is confrmed. Only
for managing pests. Examples include hive
laboratories are required to contact the CFIA
equipment manipulation, introducing new bee
regarding specifed notifable diseases. Refer
stock, supplemental feeding, and sanitation.
to the CFIA website for more information and
Debris: Any loose material that may be capable
a current listing of diseases applicable to the
of harbouring pathogens, parasites, or pests.
honey bee industry.
Examples include dead bees and bee parts,
feces, and dead parasites. Hive: Human-constructed housing for bees.
Also, refer to Bee Equipment.
Disease: An unhealthy condition in the bee
caused, for example, by a biological agent such Honey house: A building typically used
as bacteria, a viral or fungal pathogen or parasite for extracting honey, packaging honey,
that may result in death. and storing supers.
Disinfection: Applying a physical or chemical Infected: A living host organism (i.e. bee
process to a surface to destroy or inhibit the or brood), that is affected by a pathogen.
activity of micro-organisms. This is often done
8 Glossary
