An Act to amend the Act of August 31, 1922, to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases and parasites harmful to honeybees, and for other purposes.
PL 94-319 (S.18), enacted 06/25/1976

PUBLIC LAW 94-319—JUNE 25, 1976 
90 STAT. 709 
Public Law 94-319 
94th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Act of August 31, 1922, to prevent the introduction and spread of 
diseases and parasites harmful to honeybees, and for other purposes. 
June 25, 1976 
[S. 18] 
Honeybees. 
Importation, 
limitation. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of Americu in Congress assemhled^ That section 1 of 
the Act of August 31, 1922, as amended (42 Stat. 833; 76 Stat. 169; 
7 U.S.C 281), is amended to read as follows: 
"(a) In order to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases 
and parasites harmful to honeybees, and the introduction of geneti-
cally undesirable germ plasm of honeybees, the importation into the 
United States of all honeybees is prohibited, except that honeybees 
may be imported into the United States— 
"(1) by the United States Department of Agriculture for 
experimental or scientific purposes, or 
"(2) from countries determined by the Secretary of Agri-
culture— 
"(A) to be free of diseases or parasites harmful to honey-
bees, and undesirable species or subspecies of honeybees; and 
"(B) to have in operation precautions adequate to prevent 
the importation of honeybees from other countries where 
^ 
harmful diseases or parasites, or undesirable species or 
"^ 
' 
subspecies, of honeybees exist. 
"(b) Honeybee semen may be imported into the United States only 
from countries determined by the Secretary of Agriculture to be free 
of undesirable species or subspecies of honeybees, and which have in 
operation precautions adequate to prevent the importation of such 
undesirable honeybees and their semen. 
"(c) Honeybees and honeybee semen imported pursuant to subsec-
tions (a) and (b) of this section shall be imported under such rules 
and regulations as the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of 
the Treasury shall prescribe. 
"(d) Except with respect to honeybees and honeybee semen imported 
pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section, all honeybees or 
honeybee semen offered for import or intercepted entering the United 
States shall be destroyed or immediately exported. 
"(e) As used in this Act, the term 'honeybee' means all life stages "Honeybee." 
and the germ plasm of honeybees of the genus Apis, except honeybee 
semen.". 
SEC. 2. Section 2 of the Act of August 31, 1922 (42 Stat. 834; 7 
U.S.C. 282), is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 2. Any person who violates any provision of section 1 of this Penalties. 
Act or any regulation issued under it is guilty of an offense against 
the United States and shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than 
$1,000, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.". 
SEC. 3. The Act of August 31, 1922, is further amended by adding 
the following new sections: 
"SEC. 3. (a) The Secretary of ^Agriculture either independently or Undesirable 
in cooperation with States or political subdivisions thereof, farmers' species, 
associations, and similar organizations and individuals, is authorized 
eradication and 
control. 
7 use 284. 
90 STAT. 710 
PUBLIC LAW 94-319—JUNE 25, 1976 
7 use 285. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
7 use 286. 
to carry out operations or measures in the United States to eradicate, 
suppress, control, and to prevent or retard the spread of undesirable 
species and subspecies of honeybees. 
"(b) The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to cooperate with 
the Goveniments of Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, 
El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia, or the 
local authorities thereof, in carrying out necessary research, surveys, 
and control operations in those countries in connection with the eradi-
tion, suppression, control, and prevention or retardation of the 
spread of undesirable species and subspecies of honeybees, including 
but not limited to Apis mellifera adansonii, commonly known as the 
African or Brazilian honeybee. The measure and character of coopera-
tion carried out under this subsection on the part of such countries, 
including the expenditure or use of funds appropriated pursuant to 
this Act, shall be such as may be prescribed by the Secretary of 
Agriculture. Arrangements for the cooperation authorized by this 
subsection shall be made through and in consultation with the 
Secretary of State. 
"(c) In performing the operations or measures authorized in this 
Act, the cooperating foreign country. State, or local agency shall be 
responsible for the authority to carry out such operations or measures 
on all lands and properties within the foreign country or State, other 
than those owned or controlled by the Federal Government of the 
United States, and for such other facilities and means as in the 
discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture are necessary. 
"SEC. 4. Funds appropriated to carry out the provisions of this Act 
may also be used for printing and binding without regard to section 
501 of title 44, United States Code, for employment, by contract or 
otherwise, of civilian nationals of Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, 
Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colom-
bia for services abroad, and for the construction and operation of 
research laboratories, quarantine stations, and other buildings and 
facilities. 
"SEC. 5. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.". 
Approved June 25, 1976. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 94-1160 (Coram, on Agriculture). 
SENATE REPORT No. 94-193 (eomm. on Agriculture and Forestry). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 121 (1975): June 16, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 122 (1976): June 7, considered and passed House, amended. 
June 15, Senate concurred in House amendment.