Bees Act 1980

1 Control of pests and diseases affecting bees

(1) The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales, acting jointly, may by order make such provision as they think fit for the purpose of preventing the introduction into or spreading within Great Britain of pests or diseases affecting bees.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, for the purpose there mentioned an order under this section—

(a) may prohibit or regulate the importation into or movement within Great Britain of bees and combs, bee products, hives, containers and other appliances used in connection with keeping or transporting bees, and of any other thing which has or may have been exposed to infection with any pest or disease to which the order applies;

(b) may make provision with respect to any of the matters specified in the Schedule to this Act; and

(c) may make different provision for different cases or different areas.

(3) Any authorised person may examine any bees or other things subject to control under an order under this section, and may take samples of them, in order to see if they are free from infection.

(4) Where any bees or other things subject to control under any such order are found to be infected, or to have been exposed to infection, with any pest or disease to which the order applies, any authorised person may destroy them by such means as he thinks fit, or cause them to be so destroyed.

(5) Without prejudice to subsection (4) above, where any bees or other things are imported into Great Britain in contravention of an order under this section, any authorised person may destroy them by such means as he thinks fit, or cause them to be so destroyed, and may do so with or without first allowing an opportunity for them to be re-exported.

(6) No compensation shall be payable in respect of any exercise of the powers conferred by subsections (3) and (5) above.

(7) Any person who—

(a) imports any bees or other things into Great Britain in contravention of an order under this section;

(b) moves any bees or other things within Great Britain in contravention of any such order ; or

(c) otherwise contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of any such order or with any condition imposed by any licence issued under any such order;

shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000.

(8) Any expenses incurred by any of the Ministers mentioned in subsection (1) above under this section (or under any order made under this section) shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament.

(9) The power to make an order under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument, which shall be subject to annulment by resolution of either House of Parliament.