Biosecurity (Proposed National Pest Management Strategy for American Foulbrood) Notice No. 1059 Pursuant to section 62 (1) of the Biosecurity Act 1993, I give public notice of a proposed national pest management strategy for American foulbrood (Bacillus larvae), a disease of honey bees. Purpose and Extent The purpose of the proposed strategy is to eliminate American foulbrood disease in beehives in New Zealand in order to: a minimise production losses associated with American foulbrood in honey bees; b minimise the potential for American foulbrood disease to affect export returns for honey, bee products and live bees; and c minimise the potential for decreases in profitability for beekeeping enterprises, and for horticultural enterprises growing crops which require paid pollination services from honey bees. The proposed strategy would principally involve measures to eliminate the spread of the disease among honey bees and beehives. It would place duties on all beekeepers, including apiary registration, apiary identification, beehive inspection for clinical symptoms of American foulbrood disease, the reporting and destruction of beehives found to have clinical cases of the disease, and the supplying of an annual statutory declaration of apiary ownership and occurrences of the disease. These measures would be implemented throughout New Zealand. Where the Proposed Strategy May be Obtained or Inspected A complete description of the proposed strategy may be obtained from the following organisation: National Beekeepers' Association of New Zealand Inc PO Box 3079 NAPIER Telephone: (06) 843 3446. Facsimile: (06) 843 4845 or a copy may be inspected at the following premises: National Beekeepers' Association of New Zealand Inc 40 Niven Street NAPIER or Ministry of Agriculture Level Four, ASB Bank House 101103 The Terrace WELLINGTON or a copy may be inspected on the internet at: http://www.wave.co.nz/pages/nickw Address for Notices of Opposition Any person who is likely to be affected by the implementation of the proposed strategy, and who is opposed to the proposed strategy, may notify their opposition by sending a letter to: Associate Minister of Agriculture Parliament Buildings WELLINGTON. The letter should include a brief explanation of the reasons for opposition and should be sent in time to reach the above address by Thursday 14 August 1997. Dated at Wellington this 26th day of June 1997. JOHN LUXTON, Associate Minister of Agriculture.