FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions/Answers

How do I register as a beekeeper?

Anyone who buys honeybees or has beekeeping equipment is required under the Bees Act to register with the Provincial Apiarist. Click here for the OMAFRA registration form.

How do I obtain a copy of the Bees Act?

For a copy of the The Ontarios Bees Act click here:  http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_900057_e.htm

Here is a list of what you will find;
Definitions
Bees in hive are private property
Right of owner to pursue and recover swarm
Appointment of officials
Treatment or destruction of infected bees or beekeeping equipment
Bees in hive without movable frames
Appeal
Information as to the location of beekeeping equipment to be given inspector
Concealing existence of disease
Duty of beekeeper to report disease
Quarantine of bees
Permit required for sale or removal of bees
Receiving or transporting pest prohibited
Exposing infected comb or honey
Disposal of dead colonies of bees, etc.
Honey prohibited as food for bees
Bees obtained outside Ontario
Spraying of fruit trees
Location of hives
Transporting of used containers
Certificate of registration
Beeswax refuse and used honeycombs
Records and returns
Offence
Regulations

Where can I find the regulations affecting the keeping of honey bees?

Bees Act

R.R.O. 1990, REGULATION 57

GENERAL

Consolidation Period: From June 13, 2006 to the e-laws currency date.

Last amendment: O. Reg. 281/06.

This is the English version of a bilingual regulation.

Registration

1. (1) Every beekeeper shall provide to the Provincial Apiarist, with the beekeeper's application for the issue or renewal of a certificate of registration, a return stating,

(a) the beekeeper's name and address;

(b) the location of each apiary of the beekeeper in Ontario;

(c) the name, address and telephone number of the owner or tenant of the land where each apiary is located;

(d) the municipal address or legal description of the land where each apiary is located together with sufficient detail to locate the apiary on the land; and

(e) the number of hives maintained in each apiary. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 57, s. 1 (1).

(2) The Provincial Apiarist shall keep a register of all beekeepers in Ontario showing the information set out in subsection (1). R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 57, s. 1 (2).

1.1 Beekeepers who own or possess beekeeping equipment but do not own or possess bees are exempt from the requirement for a certificate of registration under section 21 of the Act. O. Reg. 435/95, s. 1.

Diseases

2. The following diseases are designated as a disease for the purposes of the Act:

1. Acarine disease, being the disease of bees caused by the tracheal mite known as Acarapis woodi.

2. Varroatosis, being the disease of bees caused by the external mite Varroa jacobsoni. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 57, s. 2.

Records

3. (1) The records kept by every beekeeper shall include,

(a) a copy of the beekeeper's application for the issue or renewal of a certificate of registration for the year of registration;

(b) a copy of the return provided under section 1 to the Provincial Apiarist with such application; and

(c) the period of time each apiary is at each location. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 57, s. 3 (1).

(2) The records kept by every person who sells bees shall include,

(a) the name and address of every person to whom the seller sells bees;

(b) the quantity of bees sold;

(c) the date of shipment of the bees;

(d) the place from which the bees were shipped;

(e) the name and address of every person from whom the seller has purchased bees;

(f) the quantity of bees purchased;

(g) the date of receipt of each shipment of bees purchased; and

(h) a copy of all permits issued by the Provincial Apiarist for any bees sold or received. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 57, s. 3 (2).

Returns by Beekeepers

4. (1) Every person who sells bees shall make a return to the Provincial Apiarist in writing stating the name and address of the buyer, the quantities of bees or package bees sold and the date of shipment of each quantity. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 57, s. 4 (1).

(2) The return shall be made within thirty days of the date of sale of the bees or package bees. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 57, s. 4 (2).

Report of Inspector

5. (1) Subject to subsection (2), each inspector shall report to the Provincial Apiarist within ten days of each inspection of an apiary. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 57, s. 5 (1).

(2) An inspector who finds colonies of bees infected with American foul brood, acarine disease or varroatosis shall immediately notify in writing the Provincial Apiarist of the location and number of the colonies so infected and the name and address of the owner. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 57, s. 5 (2).

Signs

6. Each beekeeper shall post conspicuously within every apiary which the beekeeper owns a sign not less than 24 centimetres in height and 50 centimetres in width showing the beekeeper's name and address in letters and numbers large enough to be readily visible. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 57, s. 6.

Français

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Who do I call to get my bees inspected?

Apiary inspection is a service provided by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. Beekeepers are required to get a permit to sell bees or beekeeping equipment. A permit is also required to establish a new apiary site. Click on this link for a List of Apiary Inspectors and their counties.   http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/bees/info_beeinspectors.htm

Where can I get honeybees for pollination?

Many Ontario beekeepers are prepared to move bees to orchards or other crops that are dependent on insect pollination to insure good yields and high quality product. Click here for a List of Ontario Pollination Association Members.  https://ontariobee.dfiner.net/index.php?action=display&cat=36

Where can I buy bees?

Below is a list Ontario Bee Breeders' Association Members who have either queens (Q), queen cells (QC) or nucs (N) for sale. The Members with an asterisk * beside their name have been involved in the Mite resistant program actively selecting, annually testing and breeding for mite-resistant stock. If they are not listed as Buckfast, Carniolan or Italian, then they have Ontario selected stock. Many sell directly to beekeepers; some sell to the beekeeper supply companies only.

Producers are permitted to use stock only from locations free of AFB.

Queen and nuc producers are required to obtain permits from apiary inspectors. These permits are valid until the end of June in the following season. A small sticker with the permit number must accompany each shipment.

Some of the Bee Suppliers also supply bees. Clients need to order bees in advance. Most producers only supply bees in the spring and early summer.

Ontario Bee Breeders Association Membership

President:  Kelly Rogers Member           City    Producer of:         Contact Information        Glen Ackroyd  Tara        Q, C, N   Ackroyd's Honey   Gabriela Berger  Tara        Q, C, N   Berger's Apiaries   Davis & Steve Bryans  Alvinston        Q, C, N   Munro Honey   Dan Davidson  Watford          C, N   Davidson Apiaries   Bill Ferguson  Hensall        Q, C, N   Ferguson Apiaries   Dianne & Steve Hills  Tara          C, N   Hills Honey   Phil Laflamme  Lanark        Q, C, N   Highlands Honey   François Petit  Apple Hill        Q, C, N   Pilgrim Honey House   * eggs of Russian Stock as well   Kelly Rogers  Chatsworth        Q, C, N   Chatsworth Honey   Bryan Shanks  Uxbridge        Q, C, N   B & L Honey Farm   Pick up only - call ahead   Alison Van Alten  Carlisle        Q, C, N   Tuckamore Bee Company   Dan & Betty Walker  Strathroy        Q, C, N   Walker's Honey           Ionel Alecu  Innisfil          Q, N   Bees Universe   Guy Anderson  Kincardine Q, C, N, Colonies   Anderkin Foods Inc.   Ernst Bayer  Mitchell     N, Colonies    519-348-9128   Stefan & Ann Board  Nipissing            N   Board's Honey Farm   Jim Coneybeare  Fergus          C, N   Coneybeare Honey   Peter Dickey  Innisfil        Q, C, N   Dickey Bee Honey   Jerry Dietrich  Alma        Q, C, N   BeeHaven Apiaries   George Dubanow  St. Catherines     905-934-4913   Mary Eaton  Echo Bay   (Local Q), C, N   Mary's Bees & Crafts   David Gale  London            N   Dave's Apiaries   Clare Gerber  Wingham            N   Meadowview Apiary   Horst Goeldner  Scarborough            Q   416-265-0698   Todd Kalisz  Canton        Q, C, N    Dancing Bee Apiaries   Zenon Kohut  Lynden            N   Zenon-Bee   Misha Kutsyy  Sunderland          Q, C   Honey & Queens   Verlyn Lanning         Randy Leitch  Orangeville            N   Leitch's Honey   Peter Mewett  Stirling          Q, N   Peter Mewett   ** Imported Queens   Marvyn Norman  Waterford          Q, N   Phone 519-443-5583   Fax 519-443-5583   mrphone@kwic.com   Jim Porter  Woodstock           n/a     Noél Shank  Hanmer          Q, N   Bee-Care-Full Apiary   705-897-5565   nshank@personainternet.com   Dave Siberry  Toronto           n/a     Micheal Sounak  Lynden     Sunny Honey   John Van Blyderveen       Burgessville        Q, C, N   Oxford Honey & Supplies   Lambert Van Der Veen  Simcoe        Q, C, N   Vepex Bee Farm   519-426-3003   vepexbeefarm@hotmail.com   Paul Waenink  Elgin            N   Marion's Honey   Nicole Wojtalik  Pass Lake            N   Green Valley Farms   Orville Zavitz  Simcoe        Q, C, N   Zavitz Honey Hill Apiaries   Walter Zimmerman  Caistor Centre          Q, C, N   Little Wolf Apiaries

 

Where can I purchase beekeeping supplies?

Click on this link for Beekeeping Supplies.

Where can I get information on the Bear Damage Compensation Program?

The Damage to Honey Bee Colonies by Bears Compensation Program was established under the Livestock Poultry and Honey Bee Protection Act (Part II). This program which is administered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, provides assistance to honey bee producers who suffer bear damage.

The Bear Wise Program of the Ministry of Natural Resources has lots of information and some specifics for beekeepers under Technical Notes on their home page.