Commission Decision of 20 January 2005 amending Commission Decision 2003/881/EC concerning the animal health and certification conditions for importation of bees (Apis mellifera & Bombus spp.) from certain third countries as regards the United States of America (notified under document number C(2004) 5567) (Text with EEA relevance) (2005/60/EC)

Article 1

Commission Decision 2003/881/EC is amended as follows:

1.

Article 1 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 1

1.Member States shall authorise the importation of bees (Apis mellifera & Bombus spp.) as foreseen by Directive 92/65/EEC provided the following requirements are complied with:

  • they come from third countries or parts thereof listed in part 1 of Annex III,

  • they are accompanied by a health certificate in accordance with the specimen set out in Annex I and comply with the guarantees laid down in this specimen, and

  • the consignments are limited to a maximum of 20 accompanying attendants to one queen bee in one single queen bee cage.

2.Member States shall only authorise the importation of bees (Apis mellifera & Bombus spp.) referred to in paragraph 1 from a third country if the presence of American foulbrood, the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) and the Tropilaelaps mite (Tropilaelaps spp.) are notifiable diseases/pests throughout the whole territory of that third country.

By way of derogation, imports of bees shall be authorised from a geographically and epidemiologically isolated part of a third country listed in part 2 of Annex III. When such a derogation is applied, imports of bees from all other parts of the territory of that third country not listed in part 2 of Annex III shall be automatically excluded.

3.At the designated destination, where the hives shall be put under official control, the queens shall be transferred to new cages before being introduced to local colonies.

4.The cages, attendants, and other material that accompanied the queens from the third country of origin shall be sent to a laboratory for examination for the presence of the small hive beetle, their eggs or larvae and signs of the Tropilaelaps mite. After laboratory examination, all material shall be destroyed.’

2.

Annex I is replaced by Annex I to this Decision.

3.

Annex II to this Decision is inserted as a new Annex III.