Scotland’s Honey Bee Health Strategy: implementation plan
Details of the actions which the Bee Health Improvement Partnership (BHIP) will deliver in order to achieve the desired outcomes for honey bee health in Scotland.
Pillar 3 - pest and disease surveillance, prevention, diagnosis, and control
The BHIP will work in partnership on the development and implementation of effective strategies for Surveillance, Prevention, Diagnosis and Control of honey bee pests and diseases. The BHIP will continue to emphasise the importance of promoting effective biosecurity and good standards of husbandry.
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Action (SMART)
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Owner/lead |
Priority |
Progress/achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
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3.1: Undertake a mapping exercise to identify current distribution of Varroa in Scotland identifying possible areas where Varroa is currently not present. |
SASA SG-Policy |
Annually
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The 2023/2024 Varroa map will be updated in 2025 to take into account new reports from the beekeeping community. |
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3.2: Maintain a proportional and expert Bee Health Team in Scotland able to deliver statutory Bee Health activities across Scotland. |
SASA SG-Delivery SG-Policy SRUC |
Ongoing
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Work is ongoing to maintain a fully resourced team of bee inspectors, diagnosticians and policy personnel. |
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3.3: Review current EFB Control plan measures on infected apiaries to reflect evolving knowledge on EFB spread and control.
|
SG-Policy |
Longer-term
|
The BHIP met in February 2024 to discuss the effectiveness of the plan, future strategy and priorities. It was agreed the plan requires work to shape it more appropriately for the future. Any changes will be evidence based and pending the results of the survey (action 4.1), the report on the economic impact (action 4.2) and the SRUC analysis report (action 4.3). |
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3.4: Roll out an Annual Surveillance programme(s) (e.g. import/sentinel apiaries) potentially using self-inspections and posting of samples. This would complement the work of the bee inspectors who currently do inspections for the notifiable pest, Small Hive Beetle. |
SASA SG-Delivery |
Longer-term |
None. |
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3.5: Surveillance of emerging non-notifiable threats and viruses which have an impact on honey bee health such as Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus. |
BHIP |
Ongoing |
The BHIP Annual Report provides an update on the progress made. |
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3.6: Yellow-legged (formerly Asian) hornet (ensuring that a coordinated approach is taken with other Government departments and that additional resources are available if required). |
SG-Policy BHIP |
Ongoing |
Scottish Government published its Asian hornet Contingency Plan in April 2024 to tackle any incidences of this invasive insect in Scotland. SASA staff attended an online training session with FERA lab staff; covering the process of dissecting and analysing a Yellow-legged hornet nest. |
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3.7: Develop Contingency Plans for Small Hive Beetle and Tropilaelaps (ensuring that a coordinated approach is taken with other Government departments and that additional resources are available if required). |
SG-Policy BHIP |
Medium-term |
Contingency Plans for Small Hive Beetle (SHB) and Tropilaelaps will be developed in 2025 to prepare for this threat. Given the new information currently coming out about Tropilaelaps, SHB will be prioritised. |
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3.8: To provide guidance on best practice to improve swarm management and reduce the risk of disease spread. |
BHIP |
Medium-term |
The BHIP meeting in May 2025 will be dedicated to discussing this issue. |
Contact
Email: Bees_mailbox@gov.scot