Beekeeper registration
Any person who keeps honey bees must register as a beekeeper every 12 months. This is required under the Livestock Act 1997, regardless of the:
- number of hives
- type of hives (including observation hives, nucleus hives, top bar hives, warre hives, and flow hives)
- purpose for keeping honey bees.
Registration enables PIRSA to contact beekeepers and track bee pests and diseases. This is essential to protect the apiary industry, even if you only keep one hive in your backyard.
You will need a myPIRSA account to register online – see myPIRSA portal if you need help creating a myPIRSA account.
New registration as a beekeeper
Complete the Application for new beekeeper registration on myPIRSA.
Alternatively, you can download:
- Registration and hive identification code form ( )
- Change of ownership form ( ) if purchasing hives.
Email the completed forms to PIRSA.picregistrations@sa.gov.au and pay any applicable beekeeping fees.
Renewing beekeepers
A renewal notice will be sent to you 6 weeks before your annual beekeeper registration expires.
Complete the Manage a beekeeper registration on myPIRSA with payment, prior to your registration expiring.
Depending on the number of hives you keep, renewing beekeepers must also:
1 to 19 hives
- Acknowledge you have read and understood the latest PIRSA information on identifying notifiable honey bee pests and diseases ( )
- Provide all biosecurity management records detailed in the Determination of beekeeper information and records ( ).
- Submit a copy of either:
- A re-certification certificate and re-certification audit report undertaken on hives you own. These must be completed in the 24 months preceding your registration expiry date.
This option is for beekeepers participating in an approved quality assurance program (such as BQUAL). - Completed Chief Inspector of Stock approved biosecurity records. This includes specified practices undertaken on hives you own, within the 6 months preceding your registration expiry date.
- A re-certification certificate and re-certification audit report undertaken on hives you own. These must be completed in the 24 months preceding your registration expiry date.
20 to 49 hives
Requirements above and also:
- Complete the biosecurity records requirements listed above for all hive owners.
- Test their honey (see below) for American foulbrood (AFB) and submit a copy of the laboratory test result with the registration renewal form.
50 or more hives
Requirements above and also:
- Complete an approved course in bee pest and disease management ( ) and submit a copy of the course certificate with the registration renewal form. If your certificate will expire before your registration renewal date, you need to complete the course again.
Email all required documentation to PIRSA.picregistrations@sa.gov.au
AFB honey testing process
Honey testing must be conducted on samples:
- from a number of hives you own, as approved by the Chief Inspector of Stock
- collected within the 6 months before your registration expiry date.
Collect 100g of honey in a secure jar, after extraction. Make sure there are no comb scrapings or other debris.
If you use a barrier system, collect a separate sample from each barrier unit and label them. This will determine which unit is infected if you have a positive AFB test result.
Submit your samples to a Chief Inspector of Stock approved laboratory, per the honey testing requirements.
AFB honey testing and smear testing submission forms are available through Gribbles VETLAB:
- Email: glenside.enquiries@gribbles.com.au
- Phone: (08) 8202 3300 or 1300 307 190.
Beekeeping courses approved by the Chief Inspector of Stock
| Course name | Provider | Certificate validity | Course details |
|---|---|---|---|
Plant Health Australia | 36 months from completion | 90-minute online course:
| |
Certificate III in beekeeping | Registered training organisations | 72 months from completion | Qualification |
Pests and diseases of honeybees | Registered training organisations | 72 months from completion | Comprises 2 units from the Certificate III in beekeeping qualification:
|
Changes to your registration
As a registered beekeeper, you need to notify PIRSA if you have:
- purchased hives
- sold or disposed of any of your hives
- changed your address or other contact details – this must be submitted in writing to the Chief Inspector of Stock within 14 days.
Update your details or cancel your registration using the Manage a beekeeper registration form on myPIRSA or complete the Change of ownership or address form ( ) and email it to pirsa.picregistrations@sa.gov.au.
Annual beekeeping fees
Registration fees and mandatory contributions to the Apiary Industry Fund are based on the number of hives you keep.
Number of hives | Registration fee | Hive contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 hives | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| 5 or more hives |
$52.50 Registration renewals paid after the expiry date will also be charged a late fee |
$1 per hive owned (including the first 4 hives) |
Contact
PIRSA Apiary Registrations
Phone: 1800 654 688
Email: pirsa.picregistrations@sa.gov.au