94.76 Honeybee disease and pest control.

(1) The department shall maintain surveillance of the beekeeping industry for the detection and prevention of honeybee diseases and pests, and may promulgate or issue such rules or orders or adopt such control measures which in its judgment may be necessary to prevent, suppress or control the introduction, spread or dissemination of honeybee diseases and pests in this state.

(2) In the execution of its functions under this section, the department and its authorized agents shall have free access at all reasonable times to all apiaries, buildings, structures, rooms, vehicles or places where honeybees, beehives, beekeeping equipment or appliances, or honeybee products may be kept or stored, or in which they may be transported, and may open any package or container believed to contain honeybees, honeycombs, honeybee products, beekeeping equipment or appliances or any other materials capable of transmitting honeybee diseases or harboring pests, and obtain inspectional samples from such products or materials for further testing, examination or analysis.

(3) Honeybees shall be kept in movable frame hives. No person shall knowingly store, hold or expose honeybee products, beehives or any other beekeeping equipment or appliances in a manner which may contribute to the spread or dissemination of honeybee diseases or pests.

(4) No person may bring or cause to be brought into this state any honeybee, beehive, drawn comb or used beekeeping equipment or appliances without reporting the shipment to the department. Reports shall be made on forms furnished by the department which shall include the name and address of the consignor, name and address of the consignee, date and manner of shipment, and any further information that the department requires. All reports shall be accompanied by a certificate from an official inspector certifying that the materials have been inspected as required by the department by rule and are apparently free from honeybee diseases or pests.

(5) The department shall charge fees sufficient to cover the reasonable cost of inspections made at the request of any beekeeper to enable the interstate movement of beekeeping equipment or appliances, or honeybees or their products, and may bring an action for the payment thereof including reasonable costs of collection.

History: 1975 c. 39; 1993 a. 216; 1995 a. 307.