Have your say on the next 10 years of the PMP for AFB elimination

The Management Agency is planning to submit a proposal to the Minister for Biosecurity to extend the Biosecurity (National American Foulbrood Pest Management Plan) Order 1998 (AFB PMP) for another 10 years, beyond its expiry date of 1 April 2023. Through an extensive consultation process, we have used beekeeper ideas to develop a proposal for the next 10 years of the AFB PMP.

Make a submission on proposed changes to the AFB PMP

Your Round 2 feedback enabled us to propose detailed changes to the AFB PMP. We are now seeking your submissions on proposed changes prior to submitting the proposal to the minister.

This booklet presents an overview of the proposal, including all proposed changes and their implications. A full version of the proposal can be found here.

We are now informing, engaging, and consulting with beekeepers on the proposed changes. We’re seeking your feedback on these changes via survey. Download a copy of the Proposal Summary of Beekeeper Consultation, and then follow the link to complete your submission. Submissions close on Friday 23rd September 2022.

Addendum: Cost Benefit Analysis

Register to attend a Round 3 Webinar

Clifton King will discuss the proposed changes to the AFB PMP. Each webinar will include a Q&A for the proposed changes. The webinar presentation content will be the same for each event, and there will be a recording available for those unable to make any of the live viewing dates below.

Webinar Dates: 

• 6pm, Thursday 1st September
• 6pm, Thursday 8th September
• 6pm, Thursday 15th September

Attend a Round 3 roadshow on the proposed AFB PMP changes

(August – September 2022)

• Invercargill, Wed 17th August at 7pm: Southland Bee Society, The Commercial Vehicle Center, 120 Bill Richardson Drive.
• Hamilton, Thu 18th August at 7:30pm: Waikato Domestic Beekeepers Assn, Cosmopolitan Club, 32 Claudelands Road, Hamilton East Hamilton
• Canterbury, Tue 23rd August, 7:00pm: Canterbury Hub, Hornby Working Mens Club, 17 Carmen Road, Hornby, Christchurch
• Gisborne, Thu 25th August, 9:00am: Eastern Institute of Technology, Rural Studies Unit, Stout Street, Gisborne
• Ruatoria, Thu 25th August, 1:00pm: Eastern Institute of Technology,12 Hekiera Road, Ruatoria
• Tauranga, Fri 2nd Sept, 1:00pm: ApiNZ BOP Hub, 14 Morton Road, Aongatete
• Kaitaia, Wed 7th Sept, 3pm: Conference room at Te Ahu Centre, Cnr of State Highway 1 and Mathews Avenue
• Nelson, Tue 13th Sept, 7:00pm: Nelson Beekeepers Club, Waimea Rooms, Richmond A&P Showgrounds, 358 Lower Queen Street, Richmond, Nelson
• Otaki, Wed 21st Sept, 7pm: Otaki Buzz Club, Waitohu School, Te Manuao Rd, Otaki

Attendees will be required to wear masks and abide to venue’s COVID requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the legal definition of a ‘beekeeper’?

A beekeeper means a person who owns beehives.

What is the proposed legal definition of an ‘employee beekeeper’?

An employee beekeeper means a person employed or contracted by a beekeeper who undertakes honeybee husbandry procedures.

Will the proposed changes to the AFB PMP require beekeepers be required to pay for additional laboratory testing for AFB?

No, the proposed changes to the AFB PMP will not require beekeepers to pay for additional laboratory testing. Beekeepers will continue to be able to make commercial decisions to use or not to use laboratory tests for AFB.

The Management Agency is proposing that diagnostic laboratories must supply all AFB test results to the Management Agency including the name and address of the person that submitted the sample and the beekeeper whose honeybees, bee products or appliances were sampled. Provision of these test results will enhance the Management Agency’s ability to monitor the AFB elimination progress of beekeepers.

Does the existing AFB PMP enable the use of new technologies to detect and eliminate AFB, e.g. qPCR?

Yes, the existing AFB PMP contains provisions that enable the use of new technologies to recognise and eliminate AFB. The effectiveness of new technologies must be scientifically proven, and the research demonstrating the technologies effectiveness must be generally accepted by the scientific community.

We’re conducting three rounds of consultation with beekeepers.

Consultation Round 1:  June – July 2021 (complete)
– Beekeepers were invited to share their ideas on the AFB PMP via an online survey.

Consultation Round 2: November – December 2021 (complete)
– We used your input from Round 1 to help to propose major changes to the AFB PMP. We sought your feedback through a series of webinars and interactive roadshows.

Consultation Round 3: August – September 2022
– Your Round 2 feedback has enabled us to propose detailed changes to the AFB PMP. We are seeking your feedback via submissions. Submissions close 23 September 2022.

Submission of Proposal: December 2022

Consultation timeframes are indicative only.

Round 2 roadshows and webinars on the AFB PMP review took place during November – December 2021

The roadshows and webinars held throughout November and December gave beekeepers the opportunity to ask questions and give feedback on the proposed changes to the AFB PMP.

A booklet was prepared to summarise your submissions as well as the recommended changes to the AFB PMP. From your survey responses, beekeepers’ top priorities for the AFB PMP and its implementation were:

• • Training, education and support
  • Beekeeper commitment and practices
  • Surveillance and prevention
  • Enforcement and penalties

• Click here to download the booklet from round 2.
• Click here to watch a recording of the webinar held during round 2.
• Click here to view the full Analysis of Beekeeper Submissions: Summary Findings
• Click here to view the Analysis of Submissions: Qualitative Findings (Appendix 1)
• Click here to view the Analysis of Submissions: Qualitative Findings (Appendix 2)
• Click here to view the full Analysis of Beekeeper Submissions and Response.

Thanks for having your say in Round 2 of the AFB PMP Consultation

Thank you to all beekeepers that participated in the second round of consultation for the future of the National American Foulbrood Pest Management Plan (AFB PMP) at the end of 2021. And special thanks to the 342 beekeepers that made submissions.

We heard you and are committed to implementing the changes that beekeepers supported. We also updated the proposal to align with your feedback.

Your feedback told us that the proposed changes to the AFB PMP are on the right track. It also pointed to areas where we could do better.  Download a copy of the booklet that summarises your submissions, and our responses.

The 1st round of consultation took place during June – July 2021

Clifton King, National Compliance Manager at The Management Agency, presented in PowerPoint format at the Apiculture Conference 2021.

• Click here to watch a recorded webinar from the 1st round of consultation.
• Click here to view the PDF presentation on the AFB PMP review.
• Click here to view the full Analysis of Beekeeper Submissions
• Click here to view the full Analysis of Beekeeper Submissions and Response