Beekeeping and Bee Products Act (Cap. 67:35)

BEEKEEPING AND BEE PRODUCTS ACT CHAPTER 67:53 LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Act 28 of 1935 Amended by 7 of 1949 Current Authorised Pages Pages Authorised (inclusive) by L.R.O. 1–24 .. L.R.O. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 2 Chap. 67:53 Beekeeping and Bee Products Index of Subsidiary Legislation Page Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations (G. 17.12.1936, 22.5.1941, 7.10.1943) 8 Note on Adaptation Under paragraph 6 of the Second Schedule to the Law Revision Act (Ch. 3:03) the Commission amended certain references to public officers in this Chapter. The Minister’s approval of the amendments was signified by LN 52/1980, but no marginal reference is made to this Notice where any such amendment is made in the text. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt L.R.O. LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Beekeeping and Bee Products Chap. 67:53 3 CHAPTER 67:53 BEEKEEPING AND BEE PRODUCTS ACT ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS SECTION 1. Short title. 2. Interpretation. 3. Power to apply Act to other diseases of bees, and to declare pests. 4. Appointment of Inspector of Apiaries. 5. Power of entry of Inspector. 6. Decision of Inspector as to disease to be final. 7. Apiaries to be registered. 8. Notification of disease. 9. Regulations. 10. General penalty. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 4 Chap. 67:53 Beekeeping and Bee Products CHAPTER 67:53 BEEKEEPING AND BEE PRODUCTS ACT An Act to regulate and control beekeeping, the importation or exportation of bees, bee products and bee supplies, and to prevent the introduction and spread of bee diseases. [14TH NOVEMBER 1935] 1. This Act may be cited as the Beekeeping and Bee Products Act. 2. In this Act— “apiary” means a colony or a collection of two or more colonies of bees in hives; “bee” or “honeybee” means the honey-producing bee imported from Europe and the continent of America (known scientifically as Apis mellifica) and its varieties and any other honey-producing bee kept for the extraction of honey; “bee products” include honey, wax and any other product of beekeeping, and any preparation made from a combination of honey or wax or both or any other substance derived from honey bees; “bee supplies” include bees honeycomb, foundation, hives, frames and anything needed or used in beekeeping and in the production and preparation of honey, beeswax and any other product or thing necessary for beekeeping; “colony” means a hive containing bees or a queen bee with the necessary number of drones and worker bees; “disease” includes the diseases of bees known as “Foul Brood” and “Isle of Wight disease of bees” and any other disease of bees which the Minister may by Order declare to be a disease of bees for the purposes of this Act; “hive” means the receptacle in which bees are kept; “honey” means the sweet viscous fluid produced and stored by honeybees; 1950 Ed. Ch. 25. No. 3. 28 of 1935. Commencement. Short title. Interpretation. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt L.R.O. LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Beekeeping and Bee Products Chap. 67:53 5 Power to apply Act to other diseases of bees, and to declare pests. Appointment of Inspector of Apiaries. Power of entry of Inspector. Decision of Inspector as to disease to be final. Apiaries to be registered. “pest” includes any bee, moth, ant, bird or other living creature which is or may become injurious to the honey bee and declared by the Minister by Order to be a pest. 3. The Minister may by Order include under the description of “disease” for the purposes of this Act any other disease of bees, and declare what living creatures shall be considered “pests” under this Act. 4. There shall be in the public service an Inspector of Apiaries in Trinidad and Tobago (hereinafter referred to as the Inspector). Such Inspector shall be under the control of the Chief Technical Officer (Agriculture). 5. (1) The Inspector, with such assistance as may be necessary, may enter from time to time on any land whether open or enclosed, including any plantation, nursery, orchard, garden, pleasure ground, yard, house, building or other place where bees are kept, between the hours of eight o’clock in the morning and six o’clock in the evening of any day for the purpose of inspecting the hives, making enquiries as to disease and discharging such duties as may be imposed upon him by this Act. (2) Any person who— (a) obstructs or resists the Inspector in the performance of his duties; or (b) wilfully refuses to furnish any information which such person may be required to furnish by the regulations, is liable on summary conviction to a fine of one hundred dollars. 6. For the purposes of this Act, the decision of the Inspector as to the presence of any disease shall be final. 7. Every owner or person having the charge or management of an apiary shall cause the apiary to be registered with the Inspector. Any person who makes default in registering the apiary is guilty of an offence against this Act. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 6 Chap. 67:53 Beekeeping and Bee Products 8. (1) Every owner or person having the charge or management of an apiary who knows or suspects the existence of any disease in the apiary shall as soon as practicable give notice in writing to the Inspector of the fact of the apiary being so infected or suspected and shall in the notice give all information in his power as to the extent and nature of the disease. The notice shall be served personally on the Inspector or shall be addressed to him by registered post. (2) Every person who contravenes the provisions of this section is guilty of an offence against this Act. (3) Where the owner or person having the charge or management of an apiary is charged with an offence under this Act he shall be presumed to have known of the existence of the disease, unless he shows to the satisfaction of the Court that he had no knowledge of it, and could not with reasonable diligence have obtained that knowledge. 9. The Minister may, subject to affirmative resolution of Parliament, make Regulations for— (a) preventing the introduction and spread of diseases and pests among bees in Trinidad and Tobago, including the measures to be taken for the treatment of any disease by the owner or person having the charge or management of any apiary and the destruction of any pest or hive or apiary; (b) restricting and regulating the importation or exportation of bees, bee products and bee supplies into or out of Trinidad and Tobago; (c) fixing a standard of honey to be exported from Trinidad and Tobago and grading Trinidad and Tobago honey, beeswax and bee products; (d) prohibiting the adulteration of honey, beeswax and other bee products; (e) determining the duties of the Inspector; (f) prescribing fees to be paid for any services rendered; and Notification of disease. Regulations. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt L.R.O. LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Beekeeping and Bee Products Chap. 67:53 7 General penalty. (g) generally regulating, controlling, protecting and developing the beekeeping industry of Trinidad and Tobago. 10. Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Act for which no specific penalty is provided is liable on summary conviction to a fine of four hundred dollars. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 8 Chap. 67:53 Beekeeping and Bee Products SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION BEEKEEPING AND BEE PRODUCTS REGULATIONS ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS REGULATION 1. Citation. 2. Interpretation. PART I REGISTRATION AND CONTROL OF APIARIES 3. Establishment of apiary. 4. Movable frame hives. 5. Placing of hives. 6. Situation and sanitary condition of apiary. 7. Registration of apiary. 8. Annual return. 9. Removing or changing site of apiary. PART II EXTRACTION, PREPARATION AND PACKING OF HONEY 10. Extracting room. 11. Honey for commercial purposes. 12. Extraction of honey. 13. Preparation of honey. 14. Packing of honey. 15. Conditions. 16. Honey unfit for food purposes. PART III PROHIBITION OF ADULTERATION OF HONEY, BEESWAX AND BEE PRODUCTS 17. Adulteration of honey and beeswax. 18. Preparation of beeswax. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt L.R.O. LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Beekeeping and Bee Products Chap. 67:53 9 [Subsidiary]Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations 19. Marketing of beeswax. 20. Purity of honey or beeswax. PART IV RESTRICTIONS ON THE IMPORTATION OF BEES, BEE SUPPLIES, AND BEE PRODUCTS 21. Prohibition. 22. Transhipment of honey. 23. Importation of Queen Bees and bee supplies. 24. Application for permit. 25. Refusal of application. 26. Issue of application. 27. Inspection before permission granted. 28. Number of Queen Bees. 29. Packaging of Queen Bees. 30. Removal of Queen Bee from package or cage. 31. Due diligence and care. 32. Importation at risk and cost of importer. 33. Fees. 34. Deposit of fees. 35. Forfeiture. 36. Precaution. PART V STANDARD OF HONEY FOR EXPORTATION AND CONTROL OF ITS EXPORTATION 37. Interpretation. 38. Grading of honey. 39. Honey in granulated form. 40. Unclassified honey. 41. Fermented or damaged honey. 42. Free of foreign material. 43. Variations. 44. Application for registration to export. REGULATION UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 10 Chap. 67:53 Beekeeping and Bee Products [Subsidiary] Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS—Continued REGULATION 45. Issue of certificate. 46. Expiration of certificate. 47. Packages to be marked. 48. Legible marks. 49. Tin containers. 50. Packing and storing of honey for exporting. 51. Type of containers. 52. Inspections. 53. Difference in grade or quality. 54. Refusal to inspect honey. 55. Fee. 56. Notice of inspection. 57. Order of inspections. PART VI CONTROL OF HONEY FOR CONSUMPTION LOCALLY 58. Required marks. 59. Registration number of apiary. 60. Condition of containers. 61. Containers securely closed. 62. Used container or package. 63. Plain and indelible mark. 64. Honey offered for sale. 65. Container to be covered. 66. Comb Honey. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt L.R.O. LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Beekeeping and Bee Products Chap. 67:53 11 [Subsidiary] BEEKEEPING AND BEE PRODUCTS REGULATIONS made under section 9 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations. 2. In these Regulations “Inspector” means the Inspector of Apiaries appointed under the Act. PART I REGISTRATION AND CONTROL OF APIARIES 3. Before the establishment of an apiary in Trinidad and Tobago the person who decides to start beekeeping shall give notice in writing of his intention to do so to the Inspector, who shall inspect the site or cause same to be inspected, and if satisfied that it is suitable for establishing an apiary, shall issue a certificate to that effect to the applicant. 4. All honeybees in Trinidad and Tobago shall be kept in movable frame hives, that is, hives so constructed as to permit the easy removal of the honeycombs and other combs for the purpose of inspection and extraction. 5. All hives shall be placed on a pedestal or stand or other support which shall be above the surface of the soil or ground and at a distance of at least six inches from each other. 6. Every apiary shall be situated on a well-drained site which shall be kept clear of weeds and tall grass and shall be in a sanitary condition, to the satisfaction of the Inspector. 7. Every application for registration of an apiary shall be made on a form to be supplied by the Department of Agriculture which shall contain the following particulars: (a) name of applicant and his postal address; (b) exact situation of apiary; (c) number of colonies constituting apiary. 17.12.1936. [22.5.1941. 7.10.1943]. Citation. Interpretation. Establishment of apiary. Movable frame hives. Placing of hives. Situation and sanitary condition of apiary. Registration of apiary. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 12 Chap. 67:53 Beekeeping and Bee Products [Subsidiary] Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations 8. Every owner or person having charge or management of an apiary shall furnish the Inspector with an annual return on or before 31st January in each year containing the following information: (a) name of owner or person having the charge or management of the apiary and his postal address; (b) exact situation of the apiary; (c) the total number of colonies constituting the apiary; (d) the total quantity of honey produced in the apiary during the previous year; (e) the total weight of wax produced in the apiary during the previous year. 9. No owner, or person having charge or management of an apiary shall remove or change the site of the apiary or any part of it from the situation stated in the certificate of such apiary without first notifying in writing the Inspector and obtaining a permit to do so, which may be refused as a precaution against the spread of disease or pests or for other good reasons. PART II EXTRACTION, PREPARATION AND PACKING OF HONEY 10. In every apiary of over 10 hives in Trinidad and Tobago there shall be a room set apart for the purpose of removing the honey from the honeycombs of a hive, which shall be known as the “extracting room”. Every extracting room shall be well ventilated and shall be rendered completely fly proof. The extracting room shall be equipped or supplied with the following: an extractor for the removal of honey from the honeycombs by centrifugal force, an uncapping knife, a honey strainer and a subsiding tank. All of this equipment shall be approved by the Inspector. 11. No honey for commercial purposes shall be obtained by squeezing or crushing the honeycombs. Annual return. Removing or changing site of apiary. Extracting room. Honey for commercial purposes. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt L.R.O. LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Beekeeping and Bee Products Chap. 67:53 13 [Subsidiary]Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations Extraction of honey. Preparation of honey. Packing of honey. Conditions. 12. Only combs with fully filled and sealed cells of honey shall be taken from the hive for the purpose of obtaining extracted honey, and the extraction of honey from partially filled and unsealed honey cells is prohibited. 13. All honey obtained by extraction in the manner prescribed herein shall be strained and allowed to subside for a period of forty-eight hours before being placed in approved containers and stored. 14. Every container of extracted honey shall be scrupulously clean and shall hold a fixed integral quantity of honey, which quantity shall be inscribed or embossed on the outside in a conspicuous manner to the satisfaction of the Inspector. 15. The following sanitary conditions shall be observed and maintained to the satisfaction of the Inspector: (a) all buildings or rooms in which honey is extracted, packed or stored shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition; (b) all appliances including extractors, pumps, tanks, uncapping boxes, cans or other equipment used in the handling of honey from the apiary to the final containers shall be kept clean and sanitary; (c) all operations in connection with the preparation and packing of honey shall be carried on carefully and with strict cleanliness; (d) all persons engaged in the preparation, handling and packing of honey shall be free from any communicable disease and the covering used by them to protect their clothing or person shall be of material easily cleaned and shall be kept reasonably clean; (e) no lavatory, sink, cesspit or buildings in which animals are housed, shall be so situated or maintained as to permit any odours or fumes UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 14 Chap. 67:53 Beekeeping and Bee Products [Subsidiary] Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations therefrom to pervade any room or building in which honey is being extracted, packed, handled or stored; (f) all vehicles used for the transportation of honey shall be clean and sanitary. 16. All honey intended to be used or sold for food found by the Inspector in any apiary, packing plant, warehouse, store or other business place to be in any way unfit for food purposes shall be placed under detention and held for disposal as may be directed by the Chief Technical Officer (Agriculture). PART III PROHIBITION OF ADULTERATION OF HONEY, BEESWAX AND BEE PRODUCTS 17. No foreign matter or syrup shall be added to or mixed with honey, and the adulteration of honey and beeswax in any form is strictly prohibited. 18. All beeswax shall be prepared or rendered by melting by heat the combs of honeybees after the honey in these honeycombs has been removed. 19. (1) All beeswax shall be marketed in packages or blocks which will facilitate the easy inspection and examination of the same. (2) No beeswax shall be exported from Trinidad and Tobago unless a permit to that effect has been previously obtained from the Inspector. 20. The Inspector may examine any honey or beeswax produced in Trinidad and Tobago in order to ascertain its purity, and for that purpose the Inspector may require any container to be opened or any block of wax to be cut or broken. Any such honey or beeswax may be seized by the Inspector if he has reasonable grounds to suspect that any of the provisions of this Part have been contravened, and such honey or wax shall be forfeited if Honey unfit for food purposes. Adulteration of honey and beeswax. Preparation of beeswax. Marketing of beeswax. Purity of honey or beeswax. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt L.R.O. LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Beekeeping and Bee Products Chap. 67:53 15 [Subsidiary]Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations any person is convicted of an offence against these Regulations in respect of such honey or wax. PART IV RESTRICTIONS ON THE IMPORTATION OF BEES, BEE SUPPLIES AND BEE PRODUCTS 21. (1) The importation of honey and beeswax, other than beeswax included in manufactured articles, is prohibited except as provided in this regulation. (2) The Inspector may grant a permit authorising the importation of comb foundation and of prepared beeswax to be used solely for medical or dental purposes when such goods are accompanied by a certificate from the manufacturer stating, to the satisfaction of the Inspector, that the goods have been manufactured expressly for comb foundation or for use for medical or dental purposes and have been effectively sterilised. 22. (1) No honey arriving in Trinidad and Tobago by sea or by air shall be transhipped except as provided in this regulation. (2) Honey originating elsewhere than in any of the territories in the Windward and Leeward Islands shall not be transhipped in Trinidad and Tobago. Honey originating in any of the above-mentioned territories may be transhipped in the harbour of Port-of-Spain under the authority of a permit issued by the Inspector and subject to the following provisions of this regulation. (3) No honey shall be brought or kept ashore or within one mile of the shore during transhipment or pending loading on the outgoing vessel. (4) No honey shall be unloaded or loaded or otherwise moved during transhipment except in the presence of and in accordance with the directions of an inspecting officer. (5) No honey shall be unloaded for transhipment if the containers thereof are leaky or likely to leak, and, in such case or when the damaged containers are discovered after being unloaded; the inspecting officer shall take such measures or give Prohibition. Transhipment of honey. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 16 Chap. 67:53 Beekeeping and Bee Products [Subsidiary] Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations such orders as may be reasonable and necessary in order to prevent any bees feeding upon any honey leaking or which may leak out of any containers. (6) The captain or other person in charge of any drogher or other craft which has been used for the transhipment or storage of honey shall have such vessel thoroughly cleansed immediately such transhipment or storage is completed and before such drogher or other craft approaches the shore. (7) No honey arriving in Trinidad and Tobago in any vessel or aircraft from places overseas whether for transhipment or not shall in any circumstances be brought ashore from such vessel or removed from such aircraft on a land aerodrome. (8) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this regulation, the Inspector shall have the right to prohibit the transhipment of any honey if he has reason to believe that such honey proceeds from any country or place in which any disease of honey bees is known to occur or if, for any reason such transhipment is likely to introduce any disease of honey bees into Trinidad and Tobago. (9) Whenever an inspecting officer gives any order in exercise of the powers vested in him by subregulation (5) any person in charge of the honey or handling the honey in respect of which the order is given shall immediately comply with it. (10) For the purposes of this regulation, “inspecting officer” includes the Inspector and any Plant Protection Officer appointed under the terms of the Plant Protection Act and authorised by the Chief Technical Officer (Agriculture) to act as inspecting officer under the directions of the Inspector. 23. The importation of Queen Bees and bee supplies shall be allowed only on the written consent of the Inspector and subject to compliance with these Regulations. 24. Any person who desires to import bees or bee supplies into Trinidad and Tobago shall make written application to the Chief Technical Officer (Agriculture) for a permit authorising the said importation. Ch. 63:56. Importation of Queen Bees and bee supplies. Application for permit. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt L.R.O. LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Beekeeping and Bee Products Chap. 67:53 17 [Subsidiary]Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations Refusal of application. Issue of permit. Inspection before permission granted. Number of Queen Bees. Packaging of Queen Bees. Removal of Queen Bee from package or cage. Due diligence and care. 25. No application shall be granted for the importation into Trinidad and Tobago of second hand or previously used bee supplies. 26. The Chief Technical Officer (Agriculture) may in his discretion grant or withhold the issue of a permit for which application is made under the provisions of regulation 24. 27. The Inspector may grant permission in writing for the importation into Trinidad and Tobago of Queen Bees, or bee supplies, which have been imported in compliance with these Regulations, after the Inspector shall have satisfied himself by inspection of them in the Customs, that they are the goods mentioned in the original application made by the importer. 28. The Chief Technical Officer (Agriculture) may limit the number of Queen Bees to be imported when granting permission for their importation. 29. The Queen Bees shall be imported in the usual packages addressed to the applicant in the care of the Inspector of Apiaries, Department of Agriculture, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad; and on the arrival of the package in Trinidad and Tobago no person shall remove any Queen Bee from the package or cage in which it has been imported without the written consent of the Inspector to do so. 30. The Inspector, or the person authorised in writing by him to remove any Queen Bee from a package or cage in which the same has been imported, shall remove every Queen Bee from the package or cage in which the same has been imported and shall transfer every Queen Bee so removed to a fresh package or cage with a fresh escort and food supply, and he shall immediately burn or cause to be burnt the original package or cage and the original escort and food supply. 31. The Inspector shall exercise due diligence and care so that the Queen Bees shall be transferred in the manner described above UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 18 Chap. 67:53 Beekeeping and Bee Products [Subsidiary] Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations and be redirected to the importer to the address furnished in the application with as little delay as possible, but the Inspector shall not be responsible for any delay or for the loss of any Queen Bee or Queen Bees that may occur. 32. Every importation of Queen Bees shall be made entirely at the risk and cost of the importer, and no claim for damages shall be made or be sustainable by him for any deaths or losses of Queen Bees that may occur in carrying out these Regulations. 33. The following fees shall be paid to the Inspector with each application: where the application shall be for a single Queen Bee, the sum of sixty cents; where the application shall be for more than one Queen Bee, the sum of sixty cents for the first Queen Bee, and the sum of twenty-four cents for each additional Queen Bee. 34. All fees received by any person authorised to do so shall be deposited forthwith with the Comptroller of Accounts. 35. Any bees, or bee supplies on any vessel or boat arriving in the waters of Trinidad and Tobago and intended to be landed in Trinidad and Tobago, which are not mentioned in the original application and in respect of which no authority to import into Trinidad and Tobago has been given by the Chief Technical Officer (Agriculture) shall be forfeited immediately, and either destroyed by order of the Chief Technical Officer or disposed of in such a manner as will prevent the landing of such bees, or bee supplies in Trinidad and Tobago. 36. The Comptroller of Customs and Excise on a report that a vessel arriving in Trinidad and Tobago carries honey shall take the precaution that such honey shall not be unshipped or landed or transhipped except in the harbour of Port-of-Spain and otherwise than in accordance with the relevant provisions in this Part. Importation at risk and cost of importer. Fees. Deposit of fees. Forfeiture. Precaution. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt L.R.O. LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Beekeeping and Bee Products Chap. 67:53 19 [Subsidiary]Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations PART V STANDARD OF HONEY FOR EXPORTATION AND CONTROL OF ITS EXPORTATION 37. For the purposes of this Part— “damage” means injury caused by overheating or any objectionable flavour or aroma from floral source, smoke taint or other flavour or aroma foreign to honey; “practically free” means that the honey or its surface is as clean as if strained at a temperature of not more than 130 degrees Fahrenheit through a standard bolting cloth of 86 meshes to the inch. 38. All honey intended for export shall be graded according to the following grades: “White” includes extracted honey which, when in liquid form, shall be no darker in colour than a reading of 30 mm on the Pfund Honey Grader free from damage and practically free of foreign material, and shall be well ripened, having a moisture content not exceeding 17.2 percent or with a minimum specific gravity reading of 1.4225 at 68 degrees Fahrenheit referred to water at the same temperature. “Golden” includes extracted honey which, when in liquid form, shall be no darker in colour than a reading of 47 mm on the Pfund Honey Grader, free from damage and practically free of foreign material, and shall be well ripened, having a moisture content not exceeding 17.2 per cent or with a minimum specific gravity reading of 1.4225 at 68 degrees Fahrenheit referred to water at the same temperature. “Light Amber” includes extracted honey which, when in liquid form, shall be no darker in colour than a reading of 81 mm. on the Pfund Honey Grader free from damage and practically free of foreign material and shall be well ripened, having a moisture content not exceeding 18.6 per cent or with a minimum specific gravity reading of 1.4129 at 68 degree F. referred to water at the same temperature. “Dark Amber” includes extracted honey which, when in liquid form, shall be no darker in colour than a reading Interpretation. Grading of honey. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 20 Chap. 67:53 Beekeeping and Bee Products [Subsidiary] Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations Honey in granulated form. Unclassified honey. Fermented or damaged honey. Free of foreign material. Variations. Application for registration to export. Issue of certificate. of 109 mm on the Pfund Honey Grader free from damage and practically free of foreign material and shall be well ripened, having a moisture content not exceeding 18.6 per cent or with a minimum specific gravity reading of 1.4129 at 68 degrees Fahrenheit referred to water at the same temperature. “Unclassified honey” shall consist of honey that does not conform to the requirements of any of the foregoing grades. 39. When honey as defined in any of the above grades is in granulated form, and any doubt as to grade is expressed, a sample of the honey shall be liquified and graded on the liquid basis. 40. Unclassified honey shall not be exported from Trinidad and Tobago but may be sold only for local use or consumption. 41. Honey in a fermented or damaged condition shall not be exported from Trinidad and Tobago. 42. Honey which at ordinary extracting room temperature has been strained without pressure through a double thickness of ordinary fine cheese cloth and allowed to settle for forty-eight hours will usually be considered as practically free of foreign material. 43. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and packing, not more than 10 per cent of the containers in any lot graded shall contain honey that differs from the grades as marked on the containers. But no tolerance shall be allowed for any honey that is below the next lower grade. 44. Any person who exports or produces, buys or packs honey for export shall make application for registration on a form to be obtained from the Department of Agriculture. The fee for registration shall be one dollar ($1.00) a year to be paid to the Inspector who shall forthwith deposit the same with the Comptroller of Accounts. 45. Upon receipt of application for registration together with the fee of one dollar ($1.00) as mentioned above, the Inspector shall issue a numbered certificate to the applicant. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt L.R.O. LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Beekeeping and Bee Products Chap. 67:53 21 [Subsidiary]Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations Expiration of certificate. Packages to be marked. Legible marks. Tin containers. Packing and storing of honey for exporting. Type of containers. Inspections. Difference in grade or quality. 46. All registration certificates issued shall expire on 31st December of the year of issue. 47. All packages intended for export shall be plainly and indelibly marked with the following particulars: shipping marks, grade, net weight and Trinidad and Tobago Honey. 48. All marks required shall be distinctly legible in block letters of not less than one-half inch in length and, except in the case of barrels and casks, shall be placed on a single side of the package which surface shall bear no additional mark or stamp other than those placed thereon by the Inspector. 49. All tin containers of honey shall be packed in clean, well constructed packages in good condition which are not defaced by old markings. 50. All honey intended for export shall be packed in new, clean, sound and strongly constructed containers as may be approved by the Inspector and shall be securely closed by means of screw caps, friction top lids, bungs or solder. Extracted honey for export shall be stored in hermetically sealed containers. 51. Honey to be shipped out of Trinidad and Tobago shall be placed in new and clean containers similar in shape to those used for kerosene oil, each containing fifty-six pounds of honey, and packed in cases, or in such other containers as shall be approved by the Chief Technical Officer (Agriculture). 52. All honey intended for export shall be submitted for inspection at such place as may be approved by the Inspector or at a convenient port of shipment and be made accessible to the Inspector and so placed as to disclose its quality and condition. The applicant or person requiring the inspection shall afford the Inspector such assistance as he may require in order to make a satisfactory examination thereof. 53. When any shipper of honey is submitting honey for inspection and there is any noticeable difference in the grade or UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 22 Chap. 67:53 Beekeeping and Bee Products [Subsidiary] Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations Refusal to inspect honey. Fee. Notice of inspection. Order of inspections. Required marks. quality of the honey included in the one lot, the person submitting the honey for inspection shall submit each variation or grade in separate lots, each lot bearing a distinguishing mark. 54. When any shipment of honey is submitted for inspection in a place considered unsuitable by the Inspector, or not sorted into separate lots or not bearing the distinguishing marks, the Inspector may refuse to inspect such honey until it has been arranged, sorted and marked as required by these Regulations. 55. For each inspection performed as provided in this Part a fee of six cents in respect of every hundredweight of honey submitted for inspection shall be paid by the applicant to the Inspector who shall forthwith deposit the same with the Comptroller of Accounts. 56. All persons requiring honey to be inspected and graded in compliance with these Regulations shall give adequate notice to the Inspector at least two days before inspection is required. 57. Inspections shall be made as facilities permit, and as nearly as practicable in the order in which applications are received. PART VI CONTROL OF HONEY FOR CONSUMPTION LOCALLY 58. Every person who produces, sells, offers for sale or has in his possession any honey intended for sale or consumption in Trinidad and Tobago shall be responsible that each package or container is plainly and indelibly marked as follows: (a) On tin and glass containers up to and including ten pounds capacity: name and address and the word “Honey”; the letters shall be of a size compatible with the size of the label design. (b) All other containers: name and address and the word “Honey”; the net weight of the honey contained; UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt L.R.O. LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Beekeeping and Bee Products Chap. 67:53 23 [Subsidiary]Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations Registration number of Apiary. Condition of containers. Containers securely closed. Used container or package. Plain and indelible mark. Honey offered for sale. Container to be covered. registered Number of Apiary (where offered for sale by the Beekeeper or his agent). 59. Any person who sells or offers for sale honey other than his own production shall use the registration number of the apiary to designate the producer. In such cases the name and address of the dealer as well as the registered number of the apiary producing the honey shall be marked on the container. 60. All honey intended for local sale and consumption shall be packed in clean, sound and strongly constructed containers in good condition and which are not defaced by old markings. 61. Containers of extracted honey shall be securely closed by means of screw caps, friction top lids, solder, bungs or otherwise as may be approved by the Inspector. 62. No person or persons shall use for packing honey intended for local sale or consumption any container or package that has been previously used without first completely obliterating all markings or labels when same are inconsistent with the marks required by these Regulations. 63. All marks required shall be plainly and indelibly marked and, except in the case of casks, shall be placed on a single side of the container or package, which surface shall bear no additional mark or stamp other than those placed thereon by the Inspector. 64. Every container of honey offered for sale shall be of attractive appearance and scrupulously clean, and there shall be affixed to or indelibly inscribed on its surface a statement of the nature of its contents and the volume or weight contained therein, also the name and registered number of the owner of the apiary. 65. Every container of honey shall be covered with a contrivance which shall keep the honey entirely unexposed to air. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 24 Chap. 67:53 Beekeeping and Bee Products [Subsidiary] Beekeeping and Bee Products Regulations 66. “Comb Honey” shall be sold in the accepted form known as “Sections” or in severed portions or pieces of the honeycomb, and all sections or portions of comb honey offered or exposed for sale shall be wrapped or put up or packed in sanitary and transparent containers and kept free from flies and contact with foreign matter of any sort. Comb Honey. UNOFFICIAL VERSION UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2013 MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt