Georgia (GA)
On the runs: Southeast to Gulf to California
Record held: 37 fields — 20 published, 17 not published / not yet checked.
This is a thin record because the state publishes little of this layer. What it publishes is below; every field it does not publish is marked plainly instead of filled in. A short page with honest gaps is the right page for this state.
Regulator
StateGeorgia
RegulatorGeorgia Department of Agriculture — Apiary Program
Regulator typeDepartment of agriculture division (dept-of-agriculture-division)
Regulator contactGeorgia Department of Agriculture — Apiary Program • Tel: (404) 586-1140 • mike.evans@agr.georgia.gov (as published on the GDA Apiary Program page, Contact Us). The same page directs commercial apiary license and interstate bee-movement questions to David Williams by e-mail.
Instruments
Entry permit (georgia.entry-permit · issued by the destination side)
FeeNot published / not yet checked
Validity windowNot published / not yet checked
Notice deadlineNot published / not yet checked
Lead timeNot published / not yet checked
What the certificate must stateNo permit shall be issued unless accompanied by a certificate executed by the apiary official in the state of origin, certifying that: (a) the bees were inspected within ninety (90) days of the date of shipment and, at the time of inspection, were found apparently free of American and European Foulbrood, other bee disease, and Varroa destructor; and (b) the bees were actively rearing brood at the time of inspection. In lieu of certification that the bees are free of Varroa destructor, the certification may be based upon the treatment of bees with fluvalinate hive strips or another pesticide registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Department of Agriculture for controlling Varroa destructor (Rule 40-4-1-.04(3)).
Origin history requiredThe permit application form must contain each state and county in which the colonies have been located during the previous two (2) years, together with the county or counties in the state or states of origin (Rule 40-4-1-.04(2)(b), (c)).
Who applies / who signsNo honey bees on comb or in hives shall be moved into or located in Georgia unless a permit has been obtained from the Commissioner of Agriculture of Georgia (Rule 40-4-1-.04(1)). Applications are made on a form obtained from the Entomology and Pesticides Division of the Georgia Department of Agriculture; the completed form must contain: (a) the number of colonies to be moved into or located in Georgia; (b) the county or counties in the state or states of origin; (c) each state and county in which the colonies have been located during the previous two years; and (d) the county or counties in Georgia where the bees are to be located (Rule 40-4-1-.04(2)).
Health / inspection certificate (georgia.origin-inspection-certificate · issued by the origin side)
FeeNot published / not yet checked
Validity windowThe certificate must certify that the bees were inspected within ninety (90) days of the date of shipment (Rule 40-4-1-.04(3)).
Notice deadlineNot published / not yet checked
Lead timeNot published / not yet checked
What the certificate must stateNo permit shall be issued unless accompanied by a certificate executed by the apiary official in the state of origin, certifying that: (a) the bees were inspected within ninety (90) days of the date of shipment and, at the time of inspection, were found apparently free of American and European Foulbrood, other bee disease, and Varroa destructor; and (b) the bees were actively rearing brood at the time of inspection. In lieu of certification that the bees are free of Varroa destructor, the certification may be based upon the treatment of bees with fluvalinate hive strips or another pesticide registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Department of Agriculture for controlling Varroa destructor (Rule 40-4-1-.04(3)).
Origin history requiredNot published / not yet checked
Who applies / who signsThe certificate is executed by the apiary official in the state of origin and must accompany the entry-permit application — no Georgia entry permit issues without it (Rule 40-4-1-.04(3)).
Health / inspection certificate (georgia.queen-package-certificate · issued by the origin side)
FeeNot published / not yet checked
Validity windowQueen and package bees may be shipped into Georgia if the producer apiaries were inspected within one (1) year of the date of shipment (Rule 40-4-1-.03). Georgia's own certificates for bees and queens are issued on payment of the cost of printing and are valid for a period not to exceed twelve (12) months from the date of inspection (Rule 40-4-1-.02).
Notice deadlineNot published / not yet checked
Lead timeAll queen and package bees shipped into Georgia must originate from colonies treated at least seven (7) days prior to the date of shipment with a pesticide registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Department of Agriculture for controlling Varroa destructor (Rule 40-4-1-.03).
What the certificate must stateQueen and package bees may be shipped into Georgia if accompanied by a certificate issued by the apiary official of the state in which the bees were produced, certifying that the apiaries in which the bees were produced were inspected within one (1) year of the date of shipment and found apparently free of American and European Foulbrood or other contagious or infectious disease (Rule 40-4-1-.03).
Origin history requiredNot published / not yet checked
Who applies / who signsThe certificate is issued by the apiary official of the state in which the queen and package bees were produced (Rule 40-4-1-.03).
Health / inspection certificate (georgia.outbound-certification · issued by the destination side)
FeeNot published / not yet checked
Validity windowNot published / not yet checked
Notice deadlineNot published / not yet checked
Lead timeA request for sampling and certification shall be made to the Department at least fifteen (15) days prior to the scheduled time of shipment (Rule 40-4-1-.04(6)).
What the certificate must stateCertification by the Georgia Department of Agriculture that honey bees are apparently free of tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi), Varroa destructor, or other bee pest, issued when required by a state as a condition for the shipment of bees into that state (Rule 40-4-1-.04(6)).
Origin history requiredNot published / not yet checked
Who applies / who signsAny resident Georgia beekeeper may, upon request and payment of the inspection fee, obtain certification from the Georgia Department of Agriculture when it is required by another state as a condition for shipment of bees into that state (Rule 40-4-1-.04(6)).
Moving bees — the rules around the instruments
Passing throughBees on comb or in hives may enter Georgia for the sole purpose of passage through the state if: (a) the bees are securely netted or contained in refrigerated vessels to prevent the escape of bees during the time they are in the state; and (b) movement through the state is made without interruption except for necessary fueling, meals, sleep, and emergency service (Rule 40-4-1-.04(4)). Bees entering under the through-movement provision are not covered by the entry-permit provision, which governs bees moved into or located in Georgia (Rule 40-4-1-.04(1), (4)).
Border and destination inspectionNot published / not yet checked
County layerNot published / not yet checked
Recognition of other states' certificatesIf the Commissioner of Agriculture finds colonies infected by American or European Foulbrood, any other contagious or infectious disease, or Varroa destructor in shipments into Georgia from another state under certificates issued by that state's officials, the Commissioner may refuse to recognize any certificate issued by that state until he has determined that the inspection program of that state is adequate to determine the presence of such disease or pest (Rule 40-4-1-.05, Certificates Issued by Other States).
Consequences, as publishedHoneybees and/or hives shipped or brought into Georgia in violation of Rule 40-4-1-.04 are subject to: (1) immediate depopulation or destruction of hives — depopulation by killing the bees and/or hive destruction by burning, under the direct supervision of the Commissioner (or his representative) at a pre-determined location, and not eligible for indemnification; or (2) such other procedures as the Commissioner may prescribe (Rule 40-4-1-.08). Apiaries found with American Foulbrood are quarantined and the infected hives immediately destroyed under the Commissioner's supervision (Rule 40-4-1-.06).
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