586.01 – Short Title.
586.01 Short title.—This chapter shall be known as the “Florida Honey Certification and Honeybee Law.” History.—s. 9, ch. 28167, 1953; s. 1, ch. 86-62.
586.02 – Definitions.
586.02 Definitions.—As used in this chapter: (1) “Apiary” means a beeyard or site where honeybee hives, honeybees, or honeybee equipment is located. (2) “Apiculture” means the raising, caring for, and breeding of honeybees. (3) “Beekeeping equipment” means honeybee hives, frames, supers, pallets, queen excluders, and other equipment which is used in the cultivation of honeybees and the harvesting of […]
586.025 – Unlawful Acts.
586.025 Unlawful acts.—It shall be unlawful to: (1) Introduce into this state any honeybee pest or an unwanted race of honeybees, except under special permit issued by the department, which shall be the sole issuing agency for such special permits. (2) Use the terms “certified honey,” “certified,” “registered,” or “inspected” or any other term to convey or imply […]
586.03 – Certification and Labeling of Florida-Produced Honey.
586.03 Certification and labeling of Florida-produced honey.— (1) Any beekeeper or his or her representative managing honeybees in this state may make application to the department for inspection and sample analysis on which qualification for “certified honey,” or for special certification, shall be based. (2) When requested by beekeepers, honeybee products processors, or other interested parties, the department […]
586.045 – Certificates of Registration and Inspection.
586.045 Certificates of registration and inspection.— (1) Each beekeeper having honeybee colonies within the state shall apply to the department, on forms supplied by the department, for certificates of inspection and registration, and for annual renewal on the anniversary date of the registration. An application for renewal postmarked after the anniversary date shall be accompanied by a […]
586.055 – Location of Apiaries.
586.055 Location of apiaries.—An apiary may be located on land classified as agricultural under s. 193.461 or on land that is integral to a beekeeping operation. History.—s. 8, ch. 2012-83.
586.10 – Powers and Duties of Department; Preemption of Local Government Ordinances.
586.10 Powers and duties of department; preemption of local government ordinances.— (1) The authority to regulate, inspect, and permit managed honeybee colonies and to adopt rules on the placement and location of registered inspected managed honeybee colonies is preempted to the state through the department and supersedes any related ordinance adopted by a county, municipality, or political […]
586.11 – Certificate of Inspection to Accompany Interstate Shipments; Enforcement.
586.11 Certificate of inspection to accompany interstate shipments; enforcement.— (1) All honeybees, except bees in combless packages, and used beekeeping equipment shipped or moved into this state shall be accompanied by a certificate of inspection issued by the state of origin. (2)(a) The certificate shall certify that the apiaries owned or operated by the beekeeper or his or […]
586.112 – Stop-Sale or Stop-Movement Notice.
586.112 Stop-sale or stop-movement notice.—The department may issue and enforce a stop-sale or stop-movement notice to the owner or custodian of any honeybees, honeybee products, or honeybee equipment found or suspected to be in violation of this chapter or any department rules promulgated thereunder. The notice shall prohibit further sale, barter, exchange, or distribution of such […]
586.13 – Removal, Destruction, or Treatment of Infested or Infected Honeybees or Beekeeping Equipment.
586.13 Removal, destruction, or treatment of infested or infected honeybees or beekeeping equipment.— (1) If the department finds any honeybees, honeybee products, or used beekeeping equipment or other articles infested or infected with honeybee pests or an unwanted race of honeybees, notification shall be given in writing to the owner or person having charge of the apiary […]
586.14 – Compensation for Beekeeping Equipment and Honeybees Contained Therein Destroyed Due to Infection With American Foulbrood.
586.14 Compensation for beekeeping equipment and honeybees contained therein destroyed due to infection with American foulbrood.—Upon destruction of honeybees or honeybee equipment infected with American foulbrood, Bacillus larvae, Florida resident owners of honeybees and beekeeping equipment may receive compensation from the department. This compensation shall be up to 50 percent of the appraised value of the […]
586.15 – Penalty for Violation.
586.15 Penalty for violation.— (1) A person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083 for the first offense, and commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084 for a […]
586.16 – Handling of Money Received.
586.16 Handling of money received.—All money received by the department as fees and penalties under the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Plant Industry Trust Fund and shall be used by the department to defray its expenses in carrying out the duties imposed on it by […]
586.161 – Honeybee Technical Council.
586.161 Honeybee Technical Council.— (1) COMPOSITION.—The Honeybee Technical Council is created in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and shall be composed of seven members to be appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture of which there shall be five representatives of the honeybee industry, one representative of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, and one […]