Scotland’s Honey Bee Health Strategy: implementation plan

To develop a Scottish specific training package on Varroa containing Scottish specific Varroa management guidance e.g. treatments most suitable for using in Scotland/ advice on timings for these treatments/ correct use, disposal, and efficacy of Varroa treatments.

SRUC (under the Varroa Working Group)

 The Scottish Varroa Learning Package was published in Autumn 2024 and is available to download from BeeBase.

To develop an implementation plan for delivery of Varroa training package across Scotland.

SRUC

Varroa Learning Package promoted on social media, at the SBA Conference and an article in the SBA magazine as per the Implementation Plan.

To re-instate Bee Health Days.

SG-Policy

SG-Delivery

SASA

SRUC

BHIP reps

Hobbyist Bee Health Day took place on 17 June 2023 in Coatbridge. In 2024, the Bee Health Day took place on 6 July at the SRUC Aberdeen Campus.

To trial a local association led Bee Health Day event with support from the SRUC Bee Health Advisor.

SRUC

The first association-led event was held on 17 August 2024 at Dunblane and Stirling Beekeepers Association. Other associations have expressed interest in holding an event.

Liaison with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Food Standards Scotland regarding misuse of medicines and potential residues in Honey. In addition, the availability of effective medications for honey bees and review how to optimise treatments for use in Scotland and be most efficient in management techniques (including discussions prior to removing any approved medication and what replacement products will be available).

SG-Policy

Veterinary medicine and medicinal residue in honey is reserved to VMD. SG Honey Bee Health Team provided field information to the FSS and VMD to guide their policy. Routes to report any concerns or intelligence on misuse have been provided to Scottish beekeepers.

Develop communications and liaise with other interested parties (e.g. FSS, honey importers and packers), highlighting:

• the prevention of possible honey fraud and the safety and integrity of honey as a safe, natural product, free from pesticides, residues, and additives.
• Awareness for packing plants to present a minimal risk of spreading pests and diseases to local honey bee apiaries by compartmentalising production systems to keep apiary equipment separate and clean.

BHIP

Issue raised with Food Standards Scotland and Local Authorities, as well as issue of medicinal residues with the VMD.

To produce a heat map which shows our current understanding of the distribution of the EFB in Scotland to highlight where particular care should be taken when moving bees in or out of the affected area.

SG-Policy

SG-Delivery

SASA

The heat map can be found on BeeBase.

Communication of the EFB heat map to the beekeeping community with guidance recommending actions beekeepers can take to help minimise spread of the disease.

BHIP

In 2024, the heat map appeared in the June edition of the SBA, BFA and BeeCraft magazines. It is also published on BeeBase, SG’s Bee Health pages, ScotGov Rural social media and SBA social media channels. Thornes agreed to distribute copies in their parcels to purchasers based in Scotland as well as giving them to customers in their Newburgh shop.

The heat map was the topical focus for the SG stand in the honey tent at the Royal Highland Show in June 2024.

To ensure SASA are officially designated as a UK Official Laboratory for honey bee health and authorised to conduct analysis, tests and diagnosis for official controls and other official activities purposes.

SG-Policy

SASA

Following a successful application by the Scottish Government, the UK Chief Veterinary Officer confirmed that with effect from 7 September 2023, SASA was officially designated as a UK Official Laboratory for honey bee health.

Hold Varroa Working Group (VWG) meetings to address Scottish-specific Varroa issues.

Matthew Richardson, chair of the VWG

A key achievement of the group was the publication of the Scottish-specific Varroa Learning Package.

As the actions outlined for the VWG have either been completed or are now being pursued outside of the group, the chair recommended to the BHIP that the group be closed, a recommendation that was approved in February 2025.

Working with VMD, clarify labelling instructions, common applications and include information in Scottish specific Varroa guidance.

Varroa WG

SG-Policy

Discussions with the VMD confirm labelling is a matter for manufacturers, and approval of Summary of Product Characteristics (SPCs) is reserved to the VMD. Scottish-specific guidance on various Varroa treatments is included in the Scottish Varroa Learning Package.

To run a mock exercise in Autumn 2024 to test Scottish Government’s Yellow-legged (formerly Asian) hornet Contingency Plan.

SG-Policy

SG-Delivery

Part one of Exercise Melliseus, to test the governance and communication aspects of the Contingency Plan took place on 6 December 2024. The exercise confirmed preparedness for a potential incursion. However, it also highlighted areas that require attention which will be actioned in the coming months.

Part two of the exercise to test the operational delivery of the Plan to ensure the team is fully equipped to manage an incursion on the ground took place in March 2025. The exercise was successful, particularly in terms of communication, but it revealed some weaknesses in the process of nest destruction. Efforts are now underway in collaboration with NatureScot to address these issues.