Apiary Chapter 270 Draft Rulemaking Public Comment/Hearing

The purpose of the Apiary Program is to prevent the introduction and/or spread of regulated honey bee diseases, parasites, and undesirable genetic material in resident and migratory honey bee colonies, as well as encourage and maintain interstate movement of honey bees for crop pollination and honey production. Proposed changes to the current rules include:

1. Defining and clarifying terms within the rules.
2. Deregulate well established pests that are currently regulated, including the varroa mite and European foulbrood.
3. Adding pests and diseases of honey bees to the regulated pest list that do not currently exist in the United States but have the potential to be very harmful to the State of Maine Beekeeping industry.
4. Clarify areas of the current rule that are unclear and/or burdensome to beekeepers including the follow sections: Regulation, Possession and Sale, Abatement Procedures and Inspection.
5. Increase the apiary registration fee. The current fee schedule was first adopted in 1985 and has never been increased.

Comment Deadline: Monday May 13, 2019

Send Comments to: Jennifer Lund, 28 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333-0028, Phone 287-7562, Fax 624-7548 jennifer.lund@maine.gov

Public Hearing Dates:

• April 29, 2019 - 5-7pm at Cumberland County Cooperative Extension Office, 75 Clearwater Dr #104, Falmouth, ME 04105 
• May 2, 2019 - 5-7pm at Maine DOT Region 4, Blue Building, 219 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401

Related Documents:

• Draft Proposed Rules for Chapter 270 - Maine Apiary Rules and Regulations (PDF)
• Rulemaking Fact Sheet (PDF)