Registration of Apiaries

PURPOSE: This rule states that apiaries within a mile of the eradication zone shall be registered by a specific date, providing sitespecific locations and identification on each hive within the apiary. (1) Every person or owner who is in possession of an apiary, which is located within the eradication zone or within one (1) mile of that zone, in the counties of Butler, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott, and Stoddard shall register each apiary location with the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Every person required to register under this regulation, shall do so on or before the first day of May of each year in which they own, maintain, or are in possession of an apiary. (2) Every person who moves an apiary into the eradication zone or within one (1) mile of that zone or otherwise comes into possession of an apiary or hive that is located within the eradication zone after the first day of May, shall register with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the number of and location of apiaries prior to movement into, or upon possession within the eradication zone counties. (A) Registration of an apiary, which does not contain active hives with supers, and/or failure to notify the Missouri Department of Agriculture within twenty-four (24) hours that a registered apiary is no longer in use, shall be subject to a penalty of up to five hundred dollars ($500) per apiary location. (B) The Missouri Department of Agriculture may limit registration of apiaries based upon number of registered apiaries within a field unit as described within the eradication zone. At such time registration of specific apiary locations may be denied. (3) Every person or owner who is in possession of an apiary, shall pay, an annual registration fee of five dollars ($5) per apiary location up to a maximum of three hundred dollars ($300) to the Missouri Department of Agriculture at the time of registration. (4) No person shall maintain any apiary which is not registered pursuant to this article within one (1) mile of the eradication zone. Each registration is valid until January 31 of the following year. (5) Every person or owner who is in possession of an apiary, within the eradication zone or within one (1) mile of that zone shall also provide the global position system (GPS) coordinates of each apiary location. The GPS coordinates shall be updated immediately upon relocation of the apiary. Failure to provide accurate GPS coordinates will void apiary registration. (6) No person shall maintain an apiary on premises other than that of his or her residence unless the apiary is identified as follows: (A) By a sign prominently displayed in each apiary that states the name of the owner or person responsible for the apiary, his or her address and telephone number, or if he or she has no telephone a statement to that effect. Each hive within the apiary shall be identified by name or brand. (7) No person shall locate or maintain an apiary on private land not owned or leased by the person unless the person has approval from the landowner or lessee. The approval shall include the name, address and phone number of the person granting approval and shall be included with the registration. AUTHORITY: section 263.505, RSMo 2000.* Emergency rule filed April 12, 2002, effective April 22, 2002, expired Jan. 30, 2003. Original rule filed April 12, 2002, effective Nov. 30, 2002. *Original authority: 263.505, RSMo 1995.