(A) No person shall ship or move bee colonies or any used beekeeping equipment into this state from any other state or country without an inspection certificate issued by an authorized inspector from the state or country wherein shipment or movement originated. The certificate shall identify all pathogens and parasites diagnosed and any controls that were implemented.

In the absence of inspection facilities in another state or country, the director of agriculture may issue a permit authorizing the shipment or movement of the bee colonies or used beekeeping equipment into this state, provided that upon entry the bees or equipment is inspected by the department of agriculture. The cost of the inspection shall be paid upon completion in an amount determined by rule of the director. The inspection fees shall be paid to the director and deposited by the director with the treasurer of state to the credit of the plant pest program fund created in section 927.54 of the Revised Code.

If any serious bee diseases are diagnosed, appropriate controls and eradication measures immediately shall be implemented by the person shipping or owning the bee colonies or used beekeeping equipment. If the person shipping or owning the bee colonies or equipment does not implement any controls or eradication measures within forty-eight hours from the inspection, the bee colonies or equipment shall be removed from this state at the cost of the person shipping or owning them.

(B) Any person selling, shipping, or moving into this state any queen bees or packaged bees shall submit to the director an inspection report issued by an authorized inspector from the state or country wherein shipment or movement originated. One such report shall be submitted annually thirty days prior to the initial sale, shipment, or movement of queen bees or packaged bees of that year. The report shall identify any pathogens and parasites diagnosed and any controls that were implemented. If any serious bee diseases have not been controlled or if inspection reports are not provided as required under this section, such shipments shall be prohibited from entering this state.

(C) The director may deny entry of the bee colonies or used equipment if the director determines they are a threat to the bee population of this state.

(D) No person shall ship or move into this state any Africanized honey bees.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 49, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2017.

Effective Date: 06-20-1994