Movement of bees and equipment

Overview

Under Section 7 of the Bee Act, it is illegal to move honey bees, queens and used equipment between provinces without first obtaining written permission from the Provincial Apiculturist. See: Inspection requirements for interprovincial movement of honey bees into and through Alberta

Moving into or through Alberta

Bees, queens and used equipment moving into or through AB require a permit from the Alberta Provincial Apiculturist. This requires inspection from the exporting provinces.

How to get a permit

1. Ensure your Alberta beekeeper registration is up to date if appropriate – a movement permit will not be issued for non-registered or invalid beekeepers.
2. Schedule an inspection of your colonies, queens or used equipment with the exporting province’s government inspectors. See the list of Canadian apiculture specialists below.
3. Download and fill out the honey bee Permit request form (PDF, 2.3 MB). Email a digital copy of your completed form to [email protected].
4. Submit the inspection report from the exporting province as soon as it is available to [email protected].
5. Based on the inspection report, the Bee Health Assurance Team will prepare your Provincial Permit for Moving Bees and contact you if there are any issues. An additional inspection by Alberta bee inspectors may be required for imported bees and equipment.

Moving out of Alberta

Bees, queens and used equipment moving out of Alberta require inspection by the Bee Health Assurance Team. The importing province will require an inspection report before they will grant you permission to move bees and equipment into their province.

Documents required for moving bees and equipment out of Alberta

• valid Alberta beekeeper registration
• Alberta Notice of Apiary Inspection
• any additional documents required from the importing province

How to get a permit

1. Ensure your Alberta beekeeper registration is up to date if appropriate – an inspection will not be scheduled for non-registered or invalid beekeepers.
2. Email us to schedule an inspection of your colonies, queens or used equipment with the Bee Health Assurance Team: Request for Service - Permit for Interprovincial Movement of Bees
3. Inform the importing province of your proposed movement. They will provide you information on what additional documentation is required. See the list of Canadian apiculture specialists below.
4. The Bee Health Assurance Team will submit your inspection report to the importing provinces’ apiculture specialist. You will also receive a copy of the inspection report. For more information on our inspections, see our inspection services page.
5. The importing province will determine if movement of your bees and queens or used equipment is permitted.

Canadian apiculture specialists

Each province has different requirements for transporting honey bees, queens and used equipment. See the summary guide compiled by the Canadian Provincial Apiculturists: A Guide for Beekeepers on Procedures to Move, Export or Sell Honey Bees Across Canada (PDF, 289 KB)