20/04/2026
Well done to the for clearly stating their stance on bee imports.
For every beekeeper in the UK—hobbyist or commercial—the risk of importing exotic pests and diseases (including tropilaelaps)is genuinely frightening. Once something like that gets a foothold, it’s not “someone else’s problem” — it’s all of ours.
The uncomfortable truth is this: we don’t currently breed enough UK bees in the UK to meet demand, so imports keep filling the gap.
But here’s the good news: we can change that.
We already have:
- the skills (across bee farmers, hobbyists and association apiaries)
- the local knowledge
- and the bee stock here in the UK
What we need now is momentum and coordination—especially at local level.
A challenge (and an invitation) to every local association
If your association doesn’t have a breeding programme yet, push for one. Ask the question at meetings. Volunteer to help. Encourage your association apiary to make it a priority. Even small, consistent steps—queen rearing, selection, drone flooding, record-keeping—add up quickly when lots of groups do them together.
Because imports won’t stop until demand stops.
We’re continuing our own breeding programme, and we’re going to share more of the journey than ever before—what’s working, what isn’t, and what we’re learning along the way.
We’re proud to stand with BBKA and BIBBA in supporting UK-bred bees and reducing reliance on imports.
If you’re already involved in local breeding efforts, tell us what your association is doing. If you’re not—this is your nudge to start the conversation.
