Beekeepers must maintain records of biosecurity related actions and observations
Good record keeping is essential to good biosecurity as it allows for tracing the source of a disease outbreak or pest incursion.
While it is important that enough data be captured, this does not need to be a difficult or time consuming process. Below is a link to a package of templates that, if filled out wherever necessary, will allow beekeepers to easily adhere to this part of the Code of Practice. It should be noted that this template package is not mandatory and beekeepers may use their own record-keeping systems if they wish, as long as they provide the information required by the Code.
| REQUIREMENT 5.1 All beekeepers must keep legible records of: (a) The dates of all apiary inspections and observations from the inspections including an assessment of the overall strength of the hives in the apiary, any pests or diseases found in the hives and the method used for detection of arthropod pests specified in Part B 3.2. 5.2 Records may be paper-based or electronic. |
Package of Code of Practice templates (pdf format | Word format)
Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice
The Code of Practice is also available in Greek, Arabic, Italian and Turkish
B-Qual record keeping templates
The following record keeping templates were created for B-Qual, an industry owned quality assurance program.
B-Qual Food Safety Program record templates
B-Qual Approved Supplier Program Manual record templates
Victorian Bee Biosecurity Officer Ally Driessen has recorded a video on the Code of Practice. This video is part of a broader series on B-Qual (Introduction and B-Qual Audit levels), which is available on YouTube.
