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Bee Protection Ordinance [New Version], 5743-1983

פקודת הגנת דבורים [נוסח חדש], תשמ"ג–1983

Published: 1983-08-19Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2026-09-11 · Last amended 1983-08-19✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-29
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

This English text was translated from the official Hebrew using a range of translation tools, and it undergoes ongoing checks and updates. It is not a certified translation.

Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Bee Protection Ordinance [New Version], 5743-1983(1)

Definitions§

1.

In this Ordinance —

"genuine beeswax" means the substance prepared by bees and extracted from wax combs;

"the Minister" means the Minister of Agriculture;

"keeper" means the owner of bees or a person employed in the management of or care for an apiary, and also any person who is the owner or occupier of real property on which there are hives for colonies of wild bees;

"foulbrood" includes any disease or condition in bees caused by bacillus larvae or streptococcus pluton.

Appointment of inspectors§

2.

The Minister may, by notice in Reshumot (Official Gazette), appoint an inspector or inspectors for the purposes of this Ordinance.

Treatment of bees infected with disease§

3.
(a)A keeper shall not keep in his possession colonies of bees, hives or material connected with the keeping of bees that are infected with foulbrood.
(b)If a keeper becomes aware of the existence of foulbrood in a colony of bees or in his apiary, he shall treat the bees, hives or material in the manner prescribed by an inspector.
(c)The keeper shall notify the inspector of the results of the treatment at the times prescribed by the inspector, and if the inspector so requires, shall immediately destroy by burning the infected bees, combs and honey and any other infected material.

Powers of inspector§

4.
(a)An inspector may enter and examine any apiary and any place where a colony of bees is kept in order to verify that they are not infected with an infectious or contagious bee disease.
(b)On entering premises in the course of performing his duties, the inspector shall, if required to do so, produce evidence of his appointment.
(c)In any area in which foulbrood is known to exist, the inspector may require the keeper to transfer the bees to hives that have movable frames.

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(d)If an inspector finds that foulbrood or another infectious or contagious bee disease has appeared in a serious form, he shall cause the infected colonies of bees together with their hives and the contents of those hives and any other infected or contaminated material to be immediately destroyed by fire.
(e)If an inspector finds that an infectious or contagious bee disease has appeared in colonies of bees in a non-serious form, he shall give written notice to the keeper regarding the treatment of the disease and shall fix a time for the completion of the treatment.
(f)If the said time has elapsed and the keeper has not treated the bee disease in accordance with the notice, the inspector shall do so at the keeper's expense, and the costs shall be recovered from the keeper as a civil debt.

Prohibition on sale of infected apiary and equipment§

5.

If an infectious or contagious disease has been or is present in an apiary, a keeper shall not sell, exchange, give or remove from the premises bees, hives, and also accessories or used appliances for an apiary, and shall not cause them to be given or removed, until he has received written approval from an inspector that they are free from infection.

Conditions for import§

6.
(a)A person shall not import into Israel —
(1)used hives, utensils, accessories or apiary equipment;
(2)bees in combs, or bees in a package containing honey that has not first been heated to one hundred degrees Celsius for thirty minutes;
(3)bees or queens, unless the following conditions have been met:
(a)prior notice has been given to the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture of the intention to import them and of the destination of the consignment;
(b)they were first brought for examination at a designated place;
(c)a written certificate of the competent authority in the country of origin was attached to the consignment, stating that the apiary from which they were dispatched was inspected within the sixty days preceding dispatch and was found to be entirely free from infectious or contagious disease.
(b)If hives, utensils, accessories, apiary equipment, bees or queens are imported contrary to the provisions of this Section, a customs officer or inspector may seize and destroy them or forfeit them, and no compensation shall be paid to any person claiming a right therein.

Manufacture and import of wax comb foundation [7a]§

7.

A person shall not import into Israel and shall not manufacture in Israel and shall not sell or offer for sale in Israel wax comb foundation unless —

(1)it is made of sheets of pure genuine beeswax without traces of ceresin, paraffin or other adulterant;
(2)it bears an embossed pattern of hexagonal cells of the size of cells produced by bees.

Penalties§

8.

A person who contravenes the provisions of this Ordinance, or who contravenes the directions of an inspector or who obstructs him in the exercise of his powers under this Ordinance, is liable to one month's imprisonment.

Regulations§

9.

The Minister may make Regulations for the implementation of this Ordinance, including Regulations concerning —

(1)the treatment of bees and their protection from diseases and other damage;
(2)the places at which bees and queens may be imported, the conditions of import and the period during which they shall be kept for observation or in quarantine;
(3)the treatment of bees, hives and any other material infected with foulbrood or another contagious disease.

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Terms used in this version:

colony of bees — colony of bees

apiary — apiary

bee hive — bee hive

wax comb foundation — wax comb foundation

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OrdinanceAdministrative Law

פקודת הגנת דבורים [נוסח חדש], תשמ"ג–1983

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