European Communities (Notification of Varroasis in Bees) Regulations, 1996

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (NOTIFICATION OF VARROASIS IN BEES) REGULATIONS 1996 I, Ivan Yates, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 3 of the European Communities Act, 1972 (No. 27 of 1972), and for the purpose of giving effect to Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992(1), insofar as it refers to varroasis in bees, hereby make the following Regulations: (1)O.J. No. L.268/54 14/9/92 REG 1 1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Notification of Varroasis in Bees) Regulations, 1996. (2) These Regulations shall come into operation on the 3rd day of September, 1996. REG 2 2. In these Regulations — "Bees" means bees of the species Apis Melifera; "Department" means the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. REG 3 3. (1) If any person keeping or having charge of bees becomes aware or suspects that the bees, or any of them, are affected with the disease known as varroasis, he shall forthwith give notice of that fact to the Department. (2) If any person required to give notice under Paragraph (1) of this Regulation fails to give such notice forthwith, he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £200. GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 3rd day of September, 1996. IVAN YATES, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry Explanatory Note These Regulations give effect to Community Directive 92/65/EEC laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (1) to Directive 90/425/EEC, in so far as Directive 92/65/EEC refers to varroasis disease of bees. The Regulations require any person keeping or having charge of bees to report cases or suspected cases of varroasis and sets penalties in the case of failure to do so.