Welsh Statutory Instruments

2021 No. 351 (W. 103)

Bee Diseases, Wales

The Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2021

Made

17 March 2021

Laid before Senedd Cymru

19 March 2021

Coming into force

21 April 2021

The Welsh Ministers make this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 1 of the Bees Act 1980(1).

Title and commencement

1.  The title of this Order is the Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2021 and it comes into force on 21 April 2021.

Amendment of the Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Wales) Order 2006

2.  After article 2 of the Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Wales) Order 2006(2) insert—

Reporting of Varroa mite (Varroosis)

2A.  Any owner or person in charge of a hive who know or suspects that any species of the Varroa mite is present in the hive must report, as soon as practicable, that fact to the Welsh Ministers.

Lesley Griffiths

Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, one of the Welsh Ministers

17 March 2021

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Wales) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1710) (W. 172) (“the 2006 Order”) which makes provision for the control of pests and diseases affecting bees.

Article 2 inserts article 2A into the 2006 Order regarding reporting of the presence of Varroa mites. Article 2A requires persons owning or in charge of a hive to report the presence of any species of Varroa mite in that hive to the Welsh Ministers.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to this Order. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with this Order.

(1)

1980 c. 12. The functions of the Secretary of State for Wales under section 1 were, in so far as exercisable in relation to Wales transferred to the National Assembly for Wales by the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/672). The functions of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food were, in so far as exercisable in relation to Wales transferred to the National Assembly for Wales by the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3044). Functions conferred on the National Assembly for Wales now vest in the Welsh Ministers by virtue of section 162 of, and paragraph 30 of Schedule 11 to, the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32). References to the National Assembly for Wales now have effect as references to Senedd Cymru, by virtue of section 150A(2) of the Government of Wales Act 2006.