The Government of Canada welcomes the decision by the Federal Court in the national class action lawsuit regarding the importation of honey bee packages from the United States.
Beekeeper plaintiffs challenged the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) administration of Canada's honey bee import program. This decision acknowledges that Canada employed due diligence in its regulation of honey bee imports.
The CFIA continues to work to help protect animal health, including the Canadian bee population. Restrictions for importing bees into Canada are in place to help protect the bee population. In accordance with the agency's mandate and public duty to protect animal health for all Canadians, the latest available science and evidence will continue to be at the heart of CFIA regulation and decision-making.
Quick Facts
- Honey bees are regulated under the Health of Animals Act.
- The importation of honey bee packages from the United States has been restricted since 1987 due to unacceptable levels of risk. Re-evaluation of risks associated with the importation of honey bee packages from the United States is underway by the CFIA.
- Canada currently allows imports of honey bee packages from Italy, Chile, Australia and New Zealand, and honey bee queens from the United States, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Italy and Malta.
- Canada currently allows imports of queen honey bees from the U.S. because they are hand-picked and can individually be inspected for overall health and/or presence of pests. This is not the case for honey bee packages. Bee packages carry a higher risk of disease introduction because they are shipped with the contents of their hive, which may include mites, parasites and bacteria.
