|
 The Apiary Act of 1995 includes a section on registration
of apiaries. In the Apiary Act,
new apiaries are required to be registered with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. These apiaries are required to be re-registered
every 3 years. The list of
registered beekeepers and apiaries is maintained by the State Apiarist and
upon registration, the beekeeper receives a unique registration number. This number is the beekeeper’s personal
registration number and can be used to brand hives and equipment. Registration cards are available from this
office, County
Extension Agent offices, or from your local beekeeper association.
There
are a number of benefits to registering your apiary:
-
E-mail notification of disease outbreaks and updates from
the State Apiarist.
-
E-mail and postal notification of aerial spraying of
pesticides in your area when we are notified of the spraying projects.
-
Free inspection of your colonies if you are selling them,
moving them or you feel you may have a bee health problem.
-
Registering your bees helps to
protect your bees and your neighbor’s bees in the case of an American
Foulbrood (AFB) outbreak or other regulatory pest.
- If
your colonies have to be destroyed due to American Foulbrood or other
regulated pest or disease you will be compensated if they are
registered. There is no indemnity paid for the loss of unregistered bee
colonies.
What can happen if you do not
register your bees or your apiary?
1) Failure to register you bees or
comply with the provisions of “The Apiary Act of 1995” may result in the
confiscation your bees, beekeeping equipment and a $500.00 fine.
2) If your colonies have to be
destroyed due to American Foulbrood or other regulated pest or disease you
will not be compensated if they are not registered.
Please remember that
by law all honey bee colonies in the state of Tennessee
are required to be registered with this office.
All honey bees and used equipment transported into, out of, within or through
the state of Tennessee
are required by law to be inspected.
|
