Compulsory Beekeeper Registration

​Why is beekeeper registration compulsory?​

​​​​​Under Part 5, Division 3, Section 77 of the Biosecurity Act 2019 (the Act), beekeeping is considered to be a ‘regulated dealing’, and under the Act, a person must not engage in a 'regulated dealing' unless they are registered. ​

This means that registration of any beekeeping activities is compulsory for ALL Tasmanian beekeepers, whether they keep bees in a commercial or recreational capacity.  This requirement for registration was formalised in the Biosecurity Regulations 2022, which came into effect on 2 November 2022. 

The registration​ period is for two (2) years and currently, there is no cost to become registered.​​

​Requirements of registration

• ​re-register every 24 months and if hive locations or hive numbers differ significantly within the registration period, update those details using BeeTAS
  

• adhere to the Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice

• abide by any Tasmanian legislation that may differ from the Code, i.e., Section 9 of the Code (regarding completion of the Biosecurity for Beekeepers online training course) applies to ALL beekeepers in Tasmania, not just those with over 20 hives

• be informed and comply with current import requirements for bees, apiary products and used apiary equipment, including the General Biosecurity​ Direction (Emergency)​.​
  

• If managing 20 or more hives, submit an annual honey sample for American Foulbrood (AFB) through the Animal Health Laboratory in Prospect.
  

  To submit a honey sample, complete the Honey or brood comb sample submission form:
  

   Honey or Brood comb submission form (PDF 107Kb)

   Honey or Brood comb sample list form (PDF 538Kb)
  

  ​Instructions on how to fill out these forms are available here: 
  

   AHL LabFact Honey Brood Comb submissions (PDF 240Kb)

  You will be invoiced directly by the Animal Health Laboratory.
  

• ​​If managing 20 or more hives you must also provide a Declaration of Compliance​ with the code.​​​​

Register (or renew) your beekeeper registration

​​Beekeepers can register (or renew their lapsed beekeeper registration) using BeeTAS.

Beekeepers can access BeeTAS via​ https://beetas.tas.gov.au/

What is BeeTAS?

​​​BeeTAS is Biosecurity Tasmania's online registration system, designed to assist beekeepers with registration as well as manage their apiary sites.​ BeeTAS is a secure platform, hosted on data-protected servers in line with Tasmanian Government cyber-security policies.

BeeTAS allows beekeepers to: 

• register, renew, or cancel their beekeeper registration ​
  

• view and maintain their apiary site information

• record biosecurity actions such as inspections and disease management activities 
  

• record hive purchases, disposals, and hive movements

• upload training certification and laboratory results 
  

This system will greatly increase Biosecurity Tasmania’s emergency preparedness and ability to respond to exotic honeybee pests and diseases. It will also enhance Biosecurity Tasmania’s ability to efficiently share information with registered Tasmanian beekeepers.​​​