(a) If a beekeeper knows that a colony of bees has a regulated bee disease or pest, the beekeeper shall immediately report to a state apiary inspector all facts known about the bee’s disease or bee’s pests.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 44-15-109

  • Apiary: means a collection of one (1) or more colonies of bees in beehives at a location. See Tennessee Code 44-15-102
  • Bee disease or pest: means a condition in which a colony is infested/infected with a bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic condition or an organism that can or will affect the well-being of a colony. See Tennessee Code 44-15-102
  • Beekeeper: means any individual, association, corporation, or other entity who deliberately provides nesting sites for colonies of honeybees and attempts to establish and maintain colonies of honeybees at any location. See Tennessee Code 44-15-102
  • Colony: means all of the bees living together as one (1) social unit and may include the bee equipment in which the bees are living. See Tennessee Code 44-15-102
  • Department: means the Tennessee department of agriculture. See Tennessee Code 44-15-102
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) If any apiary inspector has substantial reason to believe that a feral colony of bees may be harboring any regulated bee disease or pest, the inspector has the authority to enter onto any property, public or private, to locate and examine that feral colony of bees. The examination of a feral colony and any subsequent regulatory activity must be conducted in accordance with rules established by the department.
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