From 2001 to 2003 the Agricultural Produce Commission consulted with the Western Australian beekeeping industry to establish an APC producers committee to provide industry funding for services through a fee for service charged on beekeepers. The consultation was conducted through the Bee Industry Consultative Committee that consisted of representatives of the beekeeper industry organisations, and these are:

• Western Australian Farmers Federation Inc., Beekeepers Section
• Western Australian Beekeepers Association Inc.,
• Pollination Association of Western Australian Inc.,
• Western Australian Apiarists Society.

The poll

Committee Established

After taking into consideration the poll result the Commission established the APC Beekeepers Producers’ Committee on 26 August and invited beekeepers to nominate themselves for appointment to the Committee. The Committee consisting of 5 members was appointed on 26 September and they represent all sections of the industry.

Service functions:

The services provided by the Committee are the functions approved at the poll and listed in Section 12.1 of the Agricultural Produce Commission Act as (b), (c), (d), (h), (l), (la) and (m). The services include monitoring for disease, research related to diseases, communication and education.

Fee for Service:

It is the Committee’s task to prepare the annual budget, this process involves determining of services to be provided to beekeepers, the annual cost of the services and the Fee for Service to be charged to fund the services.

In consideration of the budget for 2006 the Committee has determined the two-tier Fee for Service charge for calendar year 2006 is as follows:

Service charge per beekeeper per annum = $10.00, - education/communication 

Plus;

Service share per bee hive in production  = @ $1.00 per hive - disease control/monitoring and disease research purposes.

The 2006 budget provides for;

1. Surveillance and disease monitoring – supporting the protection of the West Australian   Beekeeping industry.
2. Research and development – benefiting the West Australian beekeeping bio-security and Apiary management.
3. Communication – a newsletter, being posted three times per year updating beekeepers on bio-security and industry related matters.

Compliance:

The regulations for the collection of Fee for Service for the Western Australian beekeepers industry is covered by the Agricultural Produce (Beekeeping Industry) Regulations 2003. Regulation 5 provides for the Department of Agriculture on behalf of the APC to collect the Fee for Service with the Annual Beekeepers Registration fee.

Because of the serious threat of exotic pests and diseases to the Western Australian beekeeping industry through the infestation of hives owned by non-commercial producers, as well as commercial producers, there was a urgent need to include non-commercial producers in the services to be provided by the Producers’ Committee.

 Designated pests:

1. Acarine (Tracheal mite, Acarapis Woodi),
2. Africanised honey bee,
3. Asian honey bee,
4. Tropilaelaps mite (Tropilaelaps clareae),
5. Bruala fly,
6. Small hive beetle,
7. Varroasis (Varroa destructor and Varroa jacobsoni),

Designated diseases:

8. American foul brood,
9. European foul brood.

MEMBER

TERM & EXPIRY

Harry East, (Chairperson)

John Davies, (Newsletter Co-ordinator)

Dan Dowsett

Colin Fleay

Glen Pattison

Lucy Beckwith
Committee Secretary

Phone: 9575 1154
Fax: 9575 1164
Email: lucy@execone.biz

Rod Pavy
(President)

Danny Pagoda
(Executive Officer)

28 Thorogood St
BURSEWOOD
WA 6100
(PO Box 6291,
East Perth WA 6892)

9486 2100 (EO)
9574 7186 (Pres)

9361 3544 (EO)
9574 7186 (Pres)

Glen Pattison
(President)

Peter Detchonn
(Secretary)

David Leyland
(President)

Leilani Leyland
(Secretary)

Ian Beeson
(President)

Richard Charlwood
(Secretary)

June Graham
(Treasurer)

6 Vanessa Way
Swan View
WA 6056 (Hon Secretary)