Bees Act 1980 facts for kids
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| Long title | An Act to make new provision for the control of pests and diseases affecting bees. |
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| Citation | 1980 c.12 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales; Scotland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 20 March 1980 |
| Commencement | 20 March 1980 |
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Status: Current legislation
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| Text of the Bees Act 1980 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk | |
The Bees Act 1980 is an important Act (a law) passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This law was created to help protect bees from harmful diseases and pests. It gives the government special powers to control how bees and beekeeping equipment are moved. The Act also sets rules for what happens if someone does not follow these protections.
Contents
What Powers Did the Bees Act 1980 Give?
The Bees Act 1980 gave government officials special powers to protect bees. These powers were designed to stop the spread of bee diseases.
Stopping Bee Diseases
If government leaders believed bees were in danger, they could act. These leaders included the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (now the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), the Secretary of State for Scotland, and the Secretary of State for Wales. If they all agreed, they could stop bees, honeycomb, beehives, or anything used in beekeeping from being moved into or around the UK.
Inspecting Bees and Hives
The Act allowed officials to check bees for diseases. They could choose people, in writing, to inspect bees. If diseased bees were found, the inspector could order them to be destroyed. Bees or equipment brought into Britain could also be destroyed if officials thought it was necessary. People whose bees were destroyed did not get money back. However, the government would pay for the costs of destroying the bees.
Entering Properties for Inspection
Officials were also allowed to enter any property or vehicle if they suspected diseased bees were there. This included places like farms, boats, or even aircraft. This power helped them find and stop diseases quickly.
What Happens if Rules Were Broken?
The Bees Act 1980 made it against the law to ignore its rules. There were clear penalties for those who did not follow the Act.
Penalties for Breaking Rules
It was against the law to move bees into or around Britain when the Act said not to. This included importing bees or not following government orders. If someone broke this rule, they could be fined up to £1,000.
If someone stopped an official from entering a property to check for diseased bees, they could also be charged. This was called "obstruction" and could lead to a fine of up to £200.
Where Did the Act Apply?
The Bees Act 1980 did not apply to all parts of the United Kingdom.
Rules for Different UK Regions
The Act did not include Northern Ireland. Its rules only applied to England, Wales, and Scotland.
Later, some of the powers under this Act were given to the Welsh Assembly. This happened under The National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 2004. This means that the Welsh Assembly now makes decisions about bee health in Wales.
