1 Hazards retained for risk assessment in the queen honey bee review Hazards retained for risk assessment in queen honey bee review OIE listed Results of risk assessment in queen honey bee review Present in an approved country Present in Australia Retained for risk assessment in review of importation of bee semen—yes/no American foulbrood (Paenibacillus larvae) Yes not to require risk management Yes Yes–under official control No. The queen honey bee review found that American foulbrood is present in Australia and concluded that a risk assessment was not required. European foulbrood (Melissococcus plutonius) Yes Found not to require risk management Yes Yes–under official control No. The queen honey bee review found that European foulbrood is present throughout large areas of Australia and concluded that a risk assessment was not required. Nosema ceranae No Found not to require risk management Yes Regional freedom Yes—a recent survey has confirmed that the major beekeeping area of Western Australia is free of this agent Braula fly No Found not to require risk management Yes Tasmania only No. The queen honey bee review found that the likely consequences of Braula fly introduction to be ‘negligible’. Phorid fly (Apocephalus borealis) No Found not to require risk management Yes No No. The queen honey bee review found that the likely consequences of Phorid fly introduction to be ‘negligible’. Small hive beetle Yes not to require risk management Yes Yes–Eastern seaboard only No. Endemic in eastern Australian mainland and negligible likelihood of being present in semen. Acarapisosis Yes Risk management measures are required for the importation of queen honey bees Yes No No. Parasite of the respiratory system and only survives a few hours outside of respiratory system. Extremely low likelihood of being present in semen. Tropilaelaps Yes Risk management measures are required for the importation of queen honey bees Yes No No. External parasite. Negligible likelihood of being present in semen. Varroosis Yes Risk management measures are required for the importation of honey bees Yes No No. External parasite. Negligible likelihood of being present in semen. Acute paralysis virus No Found not to require risk management Yes No No. There is evidence that honey bee viruses may be transmitted by via semen. However the queen honey bee review found that in the absence of the varroa mite as a vector, the unrestricted risk of this virus was ‘negligible’.
Proposed Health Certificate requirements for honey bee semen exported to Australia The certificate must accompany the consignment of bee semen. The Government Apiary Officer or Official Veterinarian must sign, date and stamp with the official government stamp each page of the certificate. The certificate must include a statement showing the exporting country and the name of the Government Apiary Officer or Official Veterinarian and contain a declaration as to the following with respect to the source of the honey bee semen for export to Australia: The colonies from the honey bee semen for export was sourced have been examined by a Government Apiary Officer or Official Veterinarian within 30 days prior to export and found to be clinically healthy and free from visible evidence of the hazards listed at clause 1.7.1 of the Requirements above. The country of export is free from Cape honey bees (A. mellifera capensis). The country of export one of the following three conditions: The country of export is free from Africanised honey bees (A. mellifera scutellata and its hybrids) and the country does not share a land border with a country where Africanised honey bees are known to be present. OR The country of export is free from Africanised honey bees but the country shares a land border with a country where Africanised honey bees are known to be present OR the semen for export has been sourced from colonies in a zone considered free from Africanised honey bees within a country where Africanised honey bees are known to be present. AND Testing of mitochondrial DNA within three months prior to export of a random selection of at least 10 worker or drone honey bees from the colonies from which the semen for export was sourced; or testing of nuclear DNA by a method approved by the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has shown the colonies not to be Africanised. AND The exporter has confirmed that the drones producing the semen in the consignment have been confined to the colonies of origin by a queen excluder and have not been permitted free flight prior to semen collection. OR The bee semen for export has been sourced from colonies in a country or zone not considered free from Africanised honey bees and testing of nuclear DNA by a method approved by the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has shown the colonies not to be Africanised.