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Beekeeping is a life-sustaining business, because of honey production and because of pollinator services for crop production. As such, any essential activity related to the beekeeping industry may continue as long as procedures are put in place to minimize risk of coronavirus spread.
Apiary Registrations and Permits are being actively produced and mailed. Any business that is waiting for a permit in order to proceed with a business transaction should contact State Apiarist Karen Roccasecca at kroccasecc@pa.gov.
Apiary regulatory inspections will be scaled back this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions. A protocol for inspection prior to interstate transportation of bees is below:
To leave Pennsylvania:
- The PA beekeeper will e-mail State Apiarist Karen Roccasecca at kroccasecc@pa.gov the following information:
- A list of queens and/or nucleus colonies leaving PA.
- Receiver's address, email/phone number, number to be received, and approximate date entering other state.
- The PA Beekeeper self-inspects the hives for bee disease and Spotted Lanternfly.
- PA State Apiarist contacts the receiving state's State Apiarist and provides information. If receiving state approves, Pennsylvania issues a Certificate of Inspection and emails it to PA beekeeper, receiving state's State Apiarist and receiving beekeeper.
To enter Pennsylvania:
- The State Apiarist in the sending state sends paperwork to PA State Apiarist with the receiving PA beekeeper's name, address, phone, email, number of hives, and approximate date entering Pennsylvania, along with documentation of inspection or self-inspection by beekeeper.
- PA will inspect these bees when the Apiary Inspectors return to work.
Bee Law, 3 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2101-2117
§ 2111. Transportation.
No person shall transport bees, hives or appliances into this Commonwealth unless they are accompanied with a certificate of inspection signed by the chief apiary inspector or corresponding inspection official of the state or county from which the bees are being transported.
Last updated 4/6/20