909.08 Annual inspection of queen apiaries - certificate. - Ohio Statutes

909.08 Annual inspection of queen apiaries - certificate.

Each person within the state engaged in the rearing of queen bees for sale or gift, before the first day of April of each year, shall file with the director of agriculture a request for the inspection of his apiaries where queen bees are reared. The director shall require all queen rearing apiaries to be inspected at least once each year. If the inspection results in the diagnosis of any serious bee disease or indicates the presence of Africanized honey bees, the owner thereof shall not ship, sell, or give away any queen bees until he has controlled or eradicated the disease or bees to the satisfaction of the director.

When such diseases or bees have been controlled or eradicated in the queen rearing apiary, or if no serious bee disease is diagnosed or Africanized honey bees are found, the director shall issue a certificate, signed by the state apiarist, a copy of which shall be attached to each package or shipment of queen bees mailed or shipped. The certificate shall be valid for, but not to exceed, one year. The use of tags or other devices bearing an invalid or altered certificate and the misuse of any valid certificate is prohibited.

Effective Date: 06-20-1994