Our monthly meeting is this Thursday, February 12th , 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Central Saanich Seniors Citizens Association, 1229 Clarke Rd., Brentwood Bay
BC Honey Producers Association – Spring Field Days here in Victoria
The BC Honey Producers Association and their Tech Transfer Program will be hosting a series of Spring Field Days this year. The one in our area will be held on SATURDAY APRIL 25TH, providing a full day of instruction and participation led by the Tech Transfer Team and guest instructors. The fee will be $29 for members and $39 for non-members. BUT – they need a venue! They are looking for a host apiary that has a minimum of 10 colonies and can accommodate 20-25 beekeepers. If you fit the description and are at all willing, please email me.
Paul van Westendorp, the province’s Provincial Apiarist until he retired very recently, has asked that I circulate the following to you:
Why Not To Import Bees from Europe – 2026
In last fall’s issue of BeesCene, I urged beekeepers to carefully assess the risks related to the importation of queens and packages from outside sources. Since then, the topic has been discussed several times among provinces in light of the threat of the Tropi mite Tropilaelaps mercedesae.
The Tropi mite has been confirmed in Western Russia, Belarus and possibly in Ukraine. It is expected that it will spread into Western Europe in the future. While most European countries maintain monitoring programs, the nature of the mite makes detection and control difficult. As a result, detection always happens after the mite has already been established.
Canadian import policies are based on the SPS (Animal and plant health) principles under WTO (World Trade Organization). This means that Canada cannot impose an outright import ban on an exporting country where the pest has not been reported. Only after confirmation can Canada impose an import restriction. The weakness of this regulatory process is that it is reactive, greatly increasing the risk of accidental introduction and failure.
Canadian beekeepers currently have access to queens and packages from Italy through Malta. Maltese suppliers apply the highest management standards in queen and package production and there is no indication that the Tropi mite is present in Malta or Italy at this time. The annual importation of queens and packages from Europe is small and does not meet a critical economic requirement for Canadian beekeepers. Most beekeepers import European queens and packages through permits with the assumption that the bees are free of disease. However, the CFIA permit is based on the integrity and timely information shared among the exporting country and Canada. Even though bee imports from overseas sources are generally safe, beekeepers must recognize the inherent disease risk associated with such shipments.
The repercussions of accidental introduction of the Tropi mite will be far-reaching and threaten the viability of Canadian beekeeping. Instead of relying on the assumption of safety, Canadian beekeepers can reduce risk through self-sufficiency, purchasing stock from domestic suppliers, and limit overseas imports only when truly necessary.
Paul van Westendorp
Provincial Apiculturist (ret.)
British Columbia