Beekeeping

Are you a beekeeper, or are you starting or taking over a beekeeping business? You need to register your it and its location to the County Administrative Board. If you suspect that your bees have contracted any infectious diseases, you must report it to your local bee inspector. If you have had to get rid of sick bees, you might be entitled to compensation.

Registering hive sites

When you start or take over a beekeeping business, you must register the locations of your bees. In the event of a change to your sites, the County Administrative Board must be informed within 1 week.

You must also inform us if you change any other information in your registration. You do not need to register that your apiary are without bees if the period is shorter than three months.

Notifying a suspected infection

If you suspect infection in any of your hives, you must immediately notify the bee inspector in your district or the County Administrative Board.

Rules for beekeeping

The Swedish Board of Agriculture provides information on the rules for beekeeping, beehives, and bee diseases.

If you have honeybees, Swedish Board of Agriculture (in swedish) External link.

Relocation permits in declared infected areas

If you have an apiary in a protection or surveillance zone, you must have a relocation permit before moving the following out of a declared infected area:

• bees
• expanded combs and their waste
• used beehives
• tools and equipment.

Contact the bee inspector in your district to obtain a relocation permit.

Areas declared infected

You can see on the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s website which areas that are currently restricted for American foulbrood and varraoosis (Varroa mites).

Current restrictions for bees and bumblebees, Swedish Board of Agriculture External link.

Compensation for exterminated bee colonies

Have you had American foulbrood in your apiary and had to destroy bee colonies? You may be eligible for compensation. The compensation is 100 SEK per bee colony, and the deductible is 300 SEK.

Conditions for compensation:

• You have a decision from your bee inspector that the colonies must be destroyed.
• At least four bee colonies have been destroyed.
• The bee inspector was present at the time of the destruction.
• Your application has been submitted to the County Administrative Board no later than six months after the destruction of the bee colonies.

Who does what in bee surveillance?

The Swedish Board of Agriculture leads the national control of designated bee diseases and monitors the occurrence and spread of the diseases. They are responsible for the legislation and instructions governing bee inspectors’ duties.

• The County Administrative Board is responsible for regional bee surveillance. We decide how the surveillance districts are divided up, and we appoint local inspectors.
• The bee inspectors must control and fight bee diseases. They decide on extermination when necessary and authorize relocation when appropriate.
• As a beekeeper, you are responsible for the practical work of controlling bee diseases in your business. If you need support in your work, you can contact your local bee inspector.

Regional bee surveillance by different County administrative Boards

• The County Administrative Board of Skåne is responsible for the regional bee surveillance in Skåne, Kronoberg and Blekinge Counties
• The County Administrative Board of Dalarna is responsible for the regional bee surveillance in Dalarna, Gävleborg, Värmland and Örebro Counties
• The County Administrative Board of Stockholm is responsible for the regional bee surveillance in Stockholm, Gotland, Södermanland, Västmanland and Uppsala Counties
• The County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland is responsible for the regional bee surveillance in Västra Götaland and Halland Counties
• The County Administrative Board of Östergötland is responsible for the regional bee surveillance in Östergötland, Kalmar and Jönköping Counties
• The County Administrative Board of Västernorrland is responsible for the regional bee surveillance in Västernorrland and Jämtland Counties
• The County Administrative Board of Norrbotten is responsible for the regional bee surveillance in Norrbotten and Västerbotten Counties