Importation of honey bee semen - Final review of import conditions

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has released a final review of the risk management of honey bee semen. The final review was completed following assessment of submissions from stakeholders.
The final review concludes that:
- Imports be permitted from those countries that are currently approved to export queen honey bees to Australia;
- Risk management measures are required to prevent the introduction of the Africanised honey bee (Apis mellifera scutellata), an undesirable sub-type of the European honey bee; and
- Restrictions on entry of honey bee semen to the state of Western Australia due to that state's differing honey bee health status.
The report is available at: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/animal/honey-bee-semen.

The department released the final review on 20 June 2016 and the measures are in force from that date.