Moratorium on Opening Hives in the Restriction Area

​​​​​On 12 March, Biosecurity Tasmania placed a moratorium on the opening of hives, harvest of honey and honeycomb, and movement of beekeeping equipment for any beekeepers that are in the 15km Bee Movement Restriction Area as declared in the General Biosecurity Direction. ​The moratorium on opening, moving and harvesting from hives, and the movement of beekeeping equipment, will be extended from 31 March to 14 April. All beekeepers within the 15km Bee Movement Restiction Area are asked to avoid opening hives during this period.

Use this interactive map to find out if your apiary or any other property where hives are kept is within the Restricted Area: Bee Movement Restriction Area interactive map.

​​Unregistered hives pose a risk of harbouring small hive beetle if they remain unchecked. This could have a serious long-term effect on the Tasmanian bee population and the honey and pollination sectors. For this reason, the moratorium on opening, moving and harvesting from hives, and the movement of beekeeping equipment, will be extended from 31 March to 14 April. This will provide additional time for Biosecurity Tasmania to ensure they​ have found and checked ALL hives in the area.

Opening a hive increases the risk that if small hive beetle is present in a hive, it might leave the hive and enter the environment. Small hive beetle can also be spread on and in a range of beekeeping equipment and bee products. 

If you believe you must open a hive for any reason, please contact Biosecurity Tasmania on 6165 3777 to arrange a time for a Biosecurity Officer to be present when the hive is opened.

Specific details on restrictions due to the moratorium can be seen below:

​Risk​
​Commercial Beekeeper
​Recreational Beekeeper
​​​Bees, hives and beekeeping equipment​​​
​Move bees between hives
​(including hives on the same
property) 		​No
​No
​Open hives to inspect for pests​
​No
​No
​Open hives on bee welfare
grounds without the presence of Biosecurity Tasmania
​No. Contact Biosecurity Tasmania.
​No. Contact Biosecurity Tasmania.​

​Conduct maintenance on hives ​e.g., manipulate or swap any hive elements, including boxes (super
or brood), frames, lids, bases, queen excluders, mats (propolis or hive), internal feeders, boards
(clearer or divider), honey,
propolis, royal jelly or any
portion of the colony (queens, workers, drones, larvae or eggs)
​No
No​
​Move used beekeeping equipment ​(including on my property)
​No
​No
Honey and honeycomb​
​Harvest honey and honeycomb ​from hives
​No
​No
​Move and sell honey, that has ​been filtered to a maximum of 2 mm pore size before 8 March 2023 ​Yes
​No
Bee products (other than honey and honeycomb)​​
​Move and sell commercially-​produced products that comprise or contain melted and refined beeswax​Yes
​No
Bee products at market stalls (other than honey and honeycomb) ​​
​Move and sell products for sale at ​​market stalls that comprise or contain melted and refined beeswax​Yes
​Contact Biosecurity Tasmania


 Summary of restrictions within the Bee Movement Restriction Area (PDF 41Kb)​