Ala. Admin. Code r. 80-10-11-.05 - Inspection Of Colonies And Honeybees

(1) Every beekeeper, owner or others in possession of any honeybees shall, on or before October 1 of each year, register with the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries every colony of honeybees, bee yards or apiaries in their possession or under their control, and such registration shall be made upon forms furnished by the commissioner upon which there shall be shown the number and location of colonies of bees with the apiary location or locations together with such other information as may be necessary for the administration of this chapter. Colonies of bees and apiaries acquired after October 1 during any year and not previously registered shall also be registered as required under this section; provided, however, that this requirement shall not apply to any bees or apiaries acquired after March 31, as such bees shall not be registered until the following October 1.

(2) If any honeybees or an apiary previously and currently registered under this section is sold or otherwise transferred from one beekeeper to another beekeeper, such registration thereof may be transferred to the person acquiring such bees or apiary without the payment of the registration fee.

(3) An annual registration or inspection fee shall be paid by the registrant which shall accompany the application for registration, and the amount of such fee shall be based upon and determined by the number of colonies of bees owned by or under the control of the person registering such honeybees in the following amount:

Number of Colonies Registration Fee

1 to 9 colonies $4.00

10 to 24 colonies $8.00

25 to 49 colonies $12.00

50 to 99 colonies $17.00

100 to 249 colonies $25.00

250 to 499 colonies $40.00

500 or more colonies $60.00

(4) Any colonies of honeybees moved from or into Alabama pursuant to the Compliance Agreement under this chapter shall be subject to inspection prior to and/or upon entry into or exit from the State, specifically including the inspection and marking of all Queen Honeybees when leaving and returning to Alabama, with any Queen not bearing the marking upon return to be quarantined or subject to destruction as provided by law. Expenses associated with inspections shall be reimbursed the Department pursuant to the terms of the Compliance Agreement. Colonies of honeybees found to be infested with American foulbrood, Bacillus larvae, the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida, or any other disease or pest, including the Africanized Honeybee, Apis mellifera scutellata (Ruttner) determined to be a threat to Alabama apiculture shall be immediately removed from the state, unless the state apiarist determines that such movement would result in likely contamination or infestation of Alabama honeybees in which event such colony shall be quarantined or subject to destruction as provided by Alabama law.

Authors: Reginald L. Sorrells, John P. Hagood, Robert J. Russell

Notes

Ala. Admin. Code r. 80-10-11-.05

New Rule: Filed August 11, 2000; effective September 15, 2000. Amended: Filed August 16, 2004; effective September 20, 2004. Amended: Filed December 2, 2005; effective January 6, 2006.

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 2-14-1 et seq., 2-25-5.