Honey bees kept in the Isle of Man have always enjoyed good health while the bee population on neighbouring islands has significantly declined with the spread of new diseases and pests most notably, Varroa.

Should the Varroa mite arrive in the Island, it could not be eradicated and would become a chronic cause of disease and reduced production.

At the request of bee-keepers the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry drafted new laws, which were approved by Tynwald this week.

It means the Island will be able to apply for additional health guarantees for its bee population by demonstrating the high health status to the European Union.

In order to achieve this DAFF needs to clearly demonstrate that it has appropriate knowledge of and controls over bee diseases and pests in the Island, which will be done using the powers contained within the Bees Act 1989.

Under the new order bee-keepers will be required to register the extent of their bee-keeping, keep appropriate records of bee-keeping activities including movement of hives and equipment, notify the presence or suspicion of the diseases American foul brood and European foul brood, notify the presence or suspicion of the pests of bees small hive beetle (Aethina tumida), Tropilaelaps mite (Trolipaelaps spp) and Varroa (Varroa destructor formerly called jacobsoni).

The new law will enable surveillance of the national swarm to formally establish its health status and will also enable suspicion of existence of disease and notifiable pests to be investigated and controlled in an appropriate way.

The department may declare by notice an area to be an infected area if it is satisfied that a notifiable pest is present.

Agriculture Minister Phil Gawne said: 'We are expecting that there will be in the region of 100 to 120 bee-keepers on the Island who will benefit from this new order.

'We are very proud of our thriving bee population on the Island and we hope that this new order will help to keep disease at bay, protect the hives of local bee-keepers and ensure that the biodiversity of our Island is not harmed.'