Last updated on October 2, 2025
The UK enforces strict animal‑health and biosecurity controls on the movement and import of live bees; importers of honeybees or bumblebees must comply with Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) licensing and sanitary requirements, which include health certification, approved premises, and disease testing for notifiable bee diseases; unlicensed or informal importation of live colonies for pollination is not permitted. Commercial operators must use authorised suppliers and follow traceability and permit conditions to prevent the spread of pests such as varroa and American foulbrood; APHA issues guidance, restricts movements from infected zones and can seize or require treatment of illegally imported colonies. Farmers and beekeepers planning to source foreign pollinators should contact APHA well in advance and secure all necessary import licences and checks.
DEFRA/APHA guidance pages maintained 2024; bee-import guidance updated 2024–2025.