Apiary Inspection Program

Find your local Bee Inspector

Apiary Registration

Pennsylvania requires that every beekeeper in the Commonwealth be registered. The registration costs $10.00 for a two calendar-year period and covers all apiaries and hives owned by that person.
Apiary registration form

Remember that all packages and hives that are brought into the Commonwealth must have a certificate of inspection.

The first law regulating beekeeping in the Commonwealth was passed in 1921. This law was passed primarily in response to a major outbreak of a highly contagious and lethal honey bee disease - American Foulbrood (AFB). Initial efforts of the Apiary Inspection Program focused on moving colonies from old fashioned "log" and "box" hives - which could not be inspected for disease, into modern movable frame hives. Apiary inspectors also educated beekeepers on the proper control and prevention of bee diseases.

PA Bee Laws and the Inspection Program

"The current Bee Law, passed in 1994, was a collaborative effort between the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers' Association and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Plant Industry. To increase efficiency of the inspection service, the new law required all apiaries in the state to be registered. The cost of registration is $10 for two calendar years.

The Bee Law continues to regulate the movement of honey bees, queens, and equipment into Pennsylvania in order to mitigate bee disease outbreak.

Each year a team of apiary inspectors is hired to inspect colonies throughout Pennsylvania during the active bee season (approximately May-September). The program aims to inspect 50% of all colonies in the Commonwealth once every two years. Inspection efforts are focused on apiaries that had previous outbreaks of American Foulbrood (AFB). When an inspector finds or suspects a case of AFB, the apiary containing the colony is quarantined as samples are processed in Harrisburg to confirm infection. Beekeepers are notified of the diagnosis and, if positive, are provided a treatment order outlining treatment options that must be completed within 14 days of receiving the order.

The Apiary Inspection Program also provides certification inspections for queen producers. The program also attempts to provide migratory beekeeping operations the certification they need to facilitate the safe and timely movement of bees in and out of the Commonwealth. The Bureau of Plant Industry does not have any regulations governing the sale of honey."

(From the site: http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us)

Letter Introducing New State Apiarist

Dear Pennsylvania Beekeeper:

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce the appointment of Leo “Rick” Donovall as the Pennsylvania State Apiarist and Invasive Species Council Coordinator. We appreciate Rick’s willingness to serve the Commonwealth in this new role, and know that his appointment is welcome news to the state’s 2,500 registered beekeepers and our Governor’s Invasive Species Council partners at the local, state and federal levels.

The Department takes seriously the work we do to serve a wide variety of stakeholders, and a thorough review of our efforts in the Bureau of Plant Industry helped design this new position. As we reviewed candidates for the post, we were very pleased to find a person who combined apiary and entomology experience with a strong knowledge of the Department and our programs.

With a B.S. in biology from Messiah College and an M.S. in entomology from the University of Delaware, Rick brings impressive academic credentials to the position. Rick also has extensive experience with the Department, having worked in the field as an aphid and fruit moth intern, and later accepting a position within the Bureau of Plant Industry’s apiary section. Most recently, Rick focused on the Emerald Ash Borer and Exotic Wood Boring Beetle survey work.

You will hear more from Rick moving forward, but I encourage you to reach out to him to introduce yourself.

Thank you for your continued support of our agriculture industry and for all that you do to keep Pennsylvania growing.

Sincerely,
Russell C. Redding
(PA Department of Agriculture Secretary) Read the PA Bee Law

Home Processing of Honey

A collection of documents related to Home Food Processing (5 pdf documents combined into one downloadable 'zip' format file): Home Food Processing Information
These are also available separately via Publication Quick Links located on the homepage.

A related document (pdf format) Guidance for the 2011 Farmers Market Season is also available.

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