Rhode Island § 4-12-5 - Apiculture

§ 4-12-5. Inspection/survey of apiaries — Notice — Entry — Abatement of infection — Infestation of undesirable bees.

(a) The director of environmental management, to determine the presence or absence of infectious, contagious or communicable diseases or honey bee pests, shall annually either:

(1) Inspect twenty percent (20%) of the bee colonies located within thirty-three percent (33%) of the state’s apiaries to determine the presence or absence of diseases and pests listed in § 4-12-2(14); or

(2) Conduct a statistical biological survey as published by the federal agriculture research service or the animal and plant health inspection service or the Beltsville beneficial insects laboratory.

Inspections or surveys will be geographically disbursed so as to be representative of the colonies within the state.

(b) A registered beekeeper may make a written request to the director for a special examination of the beekeeper’s colonies. On receipt of this written request the director or authorized inspector shall inspect the bees owned and managed by that beekeeper for bee diseases or pests. A reasonable fee shall be charged which is not contingent upon issuance of a health certificate.

(c) Once written notice of inspection has been given to an owner as provided in this section, that owner shall not move any hive or hives or bees or bee equipment from the time notice is received until either seven (7) days thereafter or until the time that the results of the inspection are received.

(d) The director shall provide for controlling or eliminating infested or diseased honey bees and pests, including eliminating swarms and feral colonies as a means to prevent further dispersal and to protect the public and the economy of this state. The control procedures shall:

(1) Include abatement, as prescribed by rules adopted under this article.

(2) Include a public education program to emphasize the importance of a healthy beekeeping industry.

(3) Be designed and implemented to minimize the negative impact on beekeepers while being effective in controlling Africanized bees and other pests.