ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

TITLE 8: AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS
CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
SUBCHAPTER b: ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS (EXCEPT MEAT AND POULTRY INSPECTION ACT REGULATIONS)
PART 60 BEES AND APIARIES ACT

Section 60.10 Definitions

Section 60.20 Registration; Colony Identification

Section 60.30 Inspection

Section 60.40 Equipment

Section 60.50 Diseased or Parasitized Colonies; Exotic Strains

Section 60.60 Permits

Section 60.70 Quarantine

Section 60.80 Administrative Rules (Repealed)

TITLE 8: AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS
CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
SUBCHAPTER b: ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS (EXCEPT MEAT AND POULTRY INSPECTION ACT REGULATIONS)
PART 60 BEES AND APIARIES ACT
SECTION 60.10 DEFINITIONS

Section 60.10 Definitions

"Bee Parasites" means the parasitic bee mites and other parasitic bee pests including but not limited to Varroa destructor (varroa mite), Tropilaelaps clareae and Aethina tumida (small hive beetle).

"Exotic Strain of Bees" means any African or Africanized honey bees or any developed strain of bee not known to be present ordinarily in the State that may present a hazard to beekeeping and/or the public.

"Infestation" means the presence of bee parasites or exotic strains of bees.

"Moved (Movement, Move)" means shipped, offered for shipment to a common carrier, received for transportation or transported, moved or allowed to be moved, by any person by any means. Movement and move shall be construed accordingly.

"Quarantine" means a circumstance in which bees, colonies, bee equipment or honey is restricted to the existing location, unless allowed to be moved or the honey extracted and removed under permit or compliance agreement with the Director.

"Registration Certificate" means a certificate provided by the Department to a beekeeper upon acceptance of the application for registration. The certificate shall be numbered and show each beekeeper's name and mailing address.

"Scientific Permit" means a document issued by the Department to allow the movement of regulated articles to a specified destination for scientific purposes.

(Source: Amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 8803, effective June 7, 2002)

Section 60.20 Registration; Colony Identification

a) Any person acquiring ownership or possession of bees shall within ten days after such acquisition file an application for registration with the Department.

b) Any person moving bees into this State from another state or country shall within ten days after arrival file an application for registration with the Department.

c) Any person owning or possessing bees in the State shall during the month of November of each year file with the Department an application for registration to renew his or her current registration.

d) Application for registration will be made on forms available from the Department. The registration information shall include:

1) The beekeeper's name, mailing address, county of residence, phone number and date.

2) The county name and exact location (such as township, section number, road number, street address, etc.) where the bees are kept.

3) The current number of colonies at each location.

4) The name of the landowner of each site where apiaries are maintained.

e) The Department will issue to beekeepers a registration certificate after the Department receives the application. All registration certificates will remain valid unless cancelled by the Department when it is determined that a beekeeper is no longer keeping bees or at the registrant's request.

f) All apiaries shall be identified. This identification shall consist of the State abbreviation "IL" followed by the beekeeper's Illinois registration number in weatherproof lettering not less than one-half inch in height. The number shall be displayed prominently on the front of a hive.

g) All bees or colonies not registered with the Department shall be declared a nuisance. The beekeeper shall have 30 days in which to register. Failure to comply within 30 days will result in abatement of the nuisance.

h) There shall be no registration fees.

(Source: Amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 2390, effective January 25, 1996)

Section 60.30 Inspection

a) Every beekeeper shall when requested by the Department provide the location of all bees, colonies and bee equipment owned or in his or her possession.

b) The Department may require that the beekeeper assist in locating and handling bees, colonies and bee equipment so that inspection may be properly performed.

(Source: Amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 2390, effective January 25, 1996)

Section 60.40 Equipment

a) Any hive from which all frames or honeycomb cannot be readily removed for inspection including cross-comb hives or any hive in any situation where adequate or efficient inspection is difficult, impractical, or impossible is hereby declared a nuisance.

b) When such a nuisance is declared, the colony owner and/or beekeeper shall be notified in writing via certified mail to cease the use of such hives. Compliance must be effected within 90 days from the receipt of the notice by the beekeeper.

c) When the beekeeper has failed to comply within the 90 day period, the Department will issue a notice to the colony owner and/or beekeeper ordering the nuisance to be abated. The nuisance must be abated within 7 days from the date of receipt of the notice by the beekeeper.

(Source: Amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 2390, effective January 25, 1996)

Section 60.50 Diseased or Parasitized Colonies; Exotic Strains

a) Any colony of bees within the State found to be infected with American foulbrood disease shall be abated. All combs, frames, honey and bees must be abated by burning in a pit at least 18 inches deep and then covering the ashes with at least six inches of soil. Hive bodies, supers, bottom boards, inner covers and outer covers may be salvaged by sanitizing with a scorching flame. Unless otherwise approved by the Department, abatement by burning shall be accomplished by the beekeeper no later than 10 days after receiving written notice from the Department that American foulbrood disease has been detected in honeybee colonies.

b) Bees, colonies or items of bee equipment can be moved within or into the State if treatment for the control of bee parasites using United States Environmental Protection Agency approved substances has been initiated not more than 30 days prior to movement.

c) No person shall possess exotic strains of bees within the State. Any colony within the State found to contain exotic strains of bees shall be abated. Colonies or package bees accepted from any area known to be infested with exotic strains of bees must be certified by the USDA or any state apiary inspection program as being European by using any USDA approved identification method.

d) The regulation of bees or colonies in an Africanized honey bee area shall be in accordance with the European Honey Bee State Certification Procedure of the Model Honey Bee Certification Plan (November 20, 1991) as approved by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (1156 – 15th Street N.W., Suite 1020, Washington, DC 20005) and the United States Department of Agriculture Interagency Technical Working Group on the Africanized Honey Bee (Agricultural Research Service, National Program Staff, Beltsville, MD 20705).

e) Incorporations by reference do not include any amendments or editions beyond the date specified and may be viewed and/or copied at the Department's Springfield office.

(Source: Amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 8803, effective June 7, 2002)

Section 60.60 Permits

a) No person shall move bees, colonies or used bee equipment from one county to another within the State, or into this State from any other state or country, without notifying the Department in person, in writing or by telephone at least ten days prior to such movement to allow issuance of a permit.

b) The permit shall specify the following information:

1) Beekeeper's name and mailing address.

2) The apiary registration number as assigned or other unique identification codes and/or marks or similar information.

3) The origin of the bees or equipment being moved.

4) The number of colonies or nature of equipment being moved.

5) The destination of the bees or equipment being moved.

6) The date when movement will be made.

7) The date of treatment for bee parasites.

c) A permit shall be issued if bees or equipment being moved from county to county or into the State of Illinois have been inspected within 90 days before the date of shipment. The person moving the bees or equipment into Illinois shall furnish to the Department an inspection certificate signed by an authorized inspector, entomologist, or other responsible official identifying all bee diseases and bee parasites and any controls that were implemented.

(Source: Amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 2390, effective January 25, 1996)

Section 60.70 Quarantine

a) The area to be quarantined will be designated by commonly accepted and readily identifiable boundaries (i.e., counties). Boundaries shall be changed by the Director to include contiguous areas if it has been determined the harmful disease, parasite or exotic strain has spread into that area.

b) A quarantine will include specific restrictions on or requirements for movement into, out of, or through the quarantine area.

c) A quarantine will specify the articles to be regulated and, if required, those exempted.

d) A quarantine will specify the measures to be undertaken to control or eradicate the harmful disease, parasite or exotic strain.

e) The Director may stop, inspect and seize, destroy, or otherwise dispose or order disposal of regulated articles found in violation of a quarantine.

f) If the Director determines that the harmful disease, parasite or exotic strain for which a quarantine has been implemented has been controlled or eradicated according to the Department's recommendation, he or she shall cancel a quarantine.

(Source: Amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 2390, effective January 25, 1996)

Section 60.80 Administrative Rules (Repealed)

(Source: Repealed at 20 Ill. Reg. 2390, effective January 25, 1996)

AUTHORITY: Implementing and authorized by the Bees and Apiaries Act [510 ILCS 20].

SOURCE: Rules and Regulations Relating to the Bees and Apiaries Act, filed March 4, 1970, effective March 15, 1970; amended May 18, 1971, effective May 28, 1971; amended January 18, 1974, effective February 1, 1974; codified at 5 Ill. Reg. 10447; Part repealed, New Part adopted at 6 Ill. Reg. 7385, effective July 1, 1982; amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 2390, effective January 25, 1996; amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 8803, effective June 7, 2002.