Manx bees gain protection

**Jon** · 29-03-2015, 09:23 PM

The beekeepers on the Isle of Man have done some work to protect their stock from the risks of imports.

The European Union has declared the Isle of Man officially free of the bee pest Varroa – an announcement that provides an important economic and environmental boost.
The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) has worked with beekeepers to gain the disease-free status.
A poster campaign will now be launched to raise public awareness of the status and ensure it is protected.
The Island has more than 800 beehives and aparies. While the importation of bees has long been prohibited, formal recognition that bees are free of disease is important for exports to the UK and Europe.

http://nihbs.org/protected-status-for-manx-bees/

**mbc** · 29-03-2015, 09:44 PM

Fair do's, well done to them.

**gavin** · 29-03-2015, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by mbc

Fair do's, well done to them.

Absolutely.

BeeBase has this, so why can't we do something similar?

Bee Imports from Crown Dependencies
The Channel Islands (and the Isle of Man), although not part of the UK are 'Crown Dependencies'. Health certificates are required for movements of bees from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man to the UK.

In addition, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are not EU Member States; however, EU legislation sets out the EU arrangements applicable to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man for trade in agricultural products (such as live animals). This legislation provides that veterinary and animal health legislation applies in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man under the same conditions as in the UK for products imported into the Islands or exported from the Islands to the EU. Similarly, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man must impose the same import requirements as the UK when receiving bees from countries outside the EU.