An allied legislative issue is the future of bee inspection in the sunshine state. Many governmental agencies, such as the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are being asked to submit operating guidelines under a proposed heavy funding cut. This effort to cut costs across the board is expected to be particularly devastating for the apiary inspection program . There is widespread agreement that the bee inspection program in Florida is the most supported and best in the nation. Not only does it keep tabs on its prime objective, incidence of American foulbrood, but has been actively involved in research to control small hive beetle and Varroa.
Many European countries demand phytosanitary certificates in order to accept imported honey.
These too are provided by the bee inspection service, which has also been involved in honey adulterating and labeling issues . Other activities include doing periodic surveys , publishing a directory of beekeepers , and conducting meetings of groups that advise the Commissioner of Agriculture on apiculture industry issues, such as the Africanized Honey Bee Task Force and Honey Bee Technical Council . In spite of the value of inspection services, they have often been criticized by beekeepers and there have been calls to do away with them, especially in the wake of introduction of tracheal and then Varroa mites. This has changed with recent discovery of Terramycin -resistant foulbrood . Experience with past American foulbrood epidemics is the basis for most bee inspection programs in existence today.