Annex

Note: Official health certificates are negotiated directly between relevant government authorities. In cases where an official health certificate has not been negotiated, this annex can be used as the basis for developing a suitable document.

To be completed by a Government Apiary Officer or official veterinarian, and each page must bear their signature, date and official government stamp

Statement by Official Government Apiary or Official Government Veterinary Officer

I, _________________________________________, certify that the information provided in this official health certificate is true and the semen collected for this consignment fully complies with the pre-export requirements described in the Australian import permit.

The container holding the bee semen in this consignment was seen to be sealed with a tamper evident seal, and the number or mark of the seal was: _______________________.

That this consignment includes _____________ (insert number) of tubes of Honey Bee Semen.

The colonies from which the honey bee semen for export was sourced have been examined by a Government Apiary Officer, official veterinarian or person authorised by the exporting Competent Authority to undertake the colony inspection within 30 days prior to export and found to be clinically healthy and free from visible evidence of:

• Africanised Honey bees (Apis mellifera scutellata and its hybrids)
• Cape honey bees (Apis mellifera capensis)
• Nosema ceranae

The country of export is free from Cape honey bees (A. mellifera capensis).

The country of export meets ONE of the following two conditions (Strike through and initial the option that does not apply):

Please note: If selecting option 2, all three conditions within this option must be met.

1. The country of export is free from Africanised honey bees (A. mellifera scutellata and its hybrids) and the country does not share a land border with a country where Africanised honey bees are known to be present.
   

   OR

2. a) The country of export is free from Africanised honey bees but the country shares a land border with a country where Africanised honey bees are known to be present OR the semen for export has been sourced from colonies in a zone recognised by Australia to be free from Africanised honey bees within a country where Africanised honey bees are known to be present.

AND

b) At least 10 worker or drone honey bees from the colonies from which the semen was sourced were randomly sampled and tested within three months prior to export. The results of mitochondrial DNA testing of this selection has shown that that colonies were not Africanised.

AND

c) The exporter has confirmed that the drones producing the semen in the consignment have been confined to the colonies of origin by a queen excluder and have not been permitted free flight prior to semen collection.

Testing for Deformed Wing Virus and Slow Bee Paralysis Virus

The bee semen or donor colony must be tested for Deformed Wing Virus and Slow Bee paralysis Virus and return a negative result for both. One of the following three conditions must be met. Strike out and initial the options that do not apply:

1. Each donor bee colony was tested by molecular methods (e.g. PCR) and found negative for Deformed Wing Virus and Slow Bee paralysis Virus in the 30 days prior to collection of the bee semen. At least 60 bees from each donor colony were collected and tested (note: it is acceptable to conduct one test per donor colony on a pooled sample of at least 60 bees).
   OR
2. A representative sample of the semen in the consignment was tested by molecular methods (e.g. PCR) and found negative for Deformed Wing Virus and Slow Bee paralysis Virus prior to export.
   OR
3. The donor colony and product have not been tested for Deformed Wing Virus and Slow Bee paralysis Virus.
   
   Note: In the case of option 3, the importer must arrange for a representative sample from the consignment to be tested by molecular methods (e.g. PCR) for Deformed Wing Virus and Slow Bee paralysis Virus upon arrival in Australia. The consignment will be held under biosecurity control pending test results and released to the importer when negative test result are received.

Please note: Due to Western Australia’s unique honey bee health status, the importation of honey bee semen is NOT permitted into this state.

……………………………………………………… Date__________________ Official Stamp

Signature of Official Veterinarian or Government Apiary Officer