Commission Implementing Decision 2013/503/EU recognising parts of the Union as free from varroosis in bees and establishing additional guarantees required in intra-Union trade and imports for the protection of their varroosis-free status.

Directive 92/65/EEC lays down the animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the European Union of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to the animal health requirements laid down in the specific acts of the Union referred to in Annex F thereto. Varroasis in bees is listed in Annex B. The Annex to this Decision lists the Member States or territories that are recognized as free from varroosis (precisely Åland islands, Finland). The Member States concerned must ensure that in their territories (a) varroosis is compulsorily notifiable under national law; and (b) regular surveillance is carried out to substantiate the absence of ectoparasitic mites of the genus Varroa. The introduction of capped brood and hatched, adult live honey bees is prohibited.

2013-01-11