Case Overview
Case: Bee products Effective: 22 Dec 2015 to 24 Feb 2016
Case Description
This case describes the requirements for the importation of bee products for all end uses other than as animal foods, fertilisers or for growing purposes. Examples of bee products are honey, honeycomb, royal jelly, propolis, beeswax and bee venom.
For the import of bee pollen powder for human therapeutic use, please refer to the BICON case Human therapeutics and medicines.
This case applies to imports into: Australia.
Western Australia currently has a higher quarantine status with respect to bees. As such, product imported into Western Australia must meet WA state quarantine entry requirements. Importers should contact the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (on +61 8 9368 3535) or the Department of Agriculture Western Australia (on +61 8 9334 1800).
Passengers arriving at ports outside of Western Australia should be aware that Western Australia has state quarantine entry requirements, should they intend on taking the material into Western Australia.
Certain states have legal requirements covering disposal. Importers should be aware of the need for care in the disposal of discarded honey and of any legal obligations with respect to disposal. This includes disposal of containers. In all cases, disposal should be done in a manner that mitigates robbing by bees with consequent risks of spread of disease.