Bee Keeping
Urban beekeeping can be an enjoyable hobby, producing a healthy nutritious product for home consumption. Bee keeping is low risk to the human population, however, can cause community concern, especially by neighbours. Beekeepers must take special care so their bees do not become a nuisance to neighbours, or even appear to be a problem. Talk to your neighbours before establishing a hive.
As part of the implementation of the Biosecurity Act 2019 (the Act), beekeeping is now considered a ‘regulated dealing’ and under the Act, a person must not engage in a regulated dealing unless they are registered. Therefore, registration is now compulsory for all Tasmanian commercial and recreational beekeepers. This requirement was formalised in new Biosecurity Regulations 2022 which came into effect on 2 November 2022.
Key info
You must register as a beekeeper in Tasmania if you keep bees commercially or for recreation.
Using the BeeTAS online portal you can register or renew your beekeeper registration, as well as manage and maintain your apiary site information and beekeeping activities.
As a registered beekeeper, you must comply with all conditions of registration including the Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice (PDF, 6.2MB). If you have more than 50 hives you must perform annual honey testing and provide a certification of compliance (PDF, 58KB).
If you have any questions about registering as a beekeeper in Tasmania, please email honeybee.biosecurity@nre.tas.gov.au