Under the Apiaries Act 1982, you must be registered as a beekeeper in Queensland if you own one or more beehives.

Registration is required for the orderly conduct of the industry and to control important honeybee diseases. A fee is charged annually, which is currently $13.35.

On this page:

• New registration
• Renewing your registration
• Changing your address
• Cancelling your registration
• Voluntary honey tests
• Marking hives

New registration

New beekeepers must register their hives. To apply, download and complete the Queensland beekeeper registration application form (PDF, 148 kB).

Send the completed form and payment ($13.35) to:

Apiary Section
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
LMB 17
Warwick Qld 4370

Renewing your registration

Registration renewal forms are posted to all registered beekeepers in February each year. They are due back with payment by 31 March.

Changing your address

If you move or need to change your postal address, contact DEEDI's Customer Service Centre.

Cancelling your registration

To cancel your registration, contact DEEDI's Customer Service Centre.

If you have sold or given away the hives, please supply the name and address of the new beekeeper. If the bees have died or have swarmed and you still have the boxes, either sterilise the hives and hive equipment or destroy the hives and frames by burning them.

Voluntary honey tests

You no longer need to submit a honey test for American Foulbrood (AFB) as a condition of registration. If you wish to have your honey tested for AFB, you may do so.

Contact Biosecurity Queensland on 07 4661 6604 to arrange for a prepaid honey test label. They will forward a 'Sample advice sheet'. Voluntary honey tests cost $19.10.

Obtain a 100 mL honey sample representative of all hives and post it to:

Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory
Health and Food Science Precinct
PO Box 156
Archerfield BC Qld 4108

Jars are available from DEEDI upon request. Alternatively, a clean jar will suffice but it must be sturdy enough for postage and sufficiently large enough to contain 100 mL of honey. Ensure it is well protected for delivery to the laboratory.