Officials have admitted defeat in protecting Australia as the only continent - bar Antarctica - without Varroa mite, announcing a decision to move from an eradication program to a management approach. 

Since the detection of Varroa mite in Australia 15 months ago, the authorities have continued in their attempts to eradicate the destructive mite, seeing millions of bees euthanased.

On Wednesday, 20 September, The National Management Group who drove the Varroa mite program met, agreeing that the potential to eradicate is no longer possible.



The focus will now look to managing and minimising the impact of Varroa. 

“It will be a small and bittersweet relief to the many hobbyist and commercial beekeepers that have contacted me since the mite evaded detection by the Department of Primary Industries last year, who were desperate to protect their bees from eradication,” said Greens spokesperson for Agriculture Sue Higginson. 

“They will now have to live with the permanent consequences of the Varroa Mite,” she said. 

The National Management Group identified non-compliance and illegal movement of bees, the logistics of controlling such a large area and the realisation of how far and how long Varroa was present as factors in the failure of the eradication program. 

“The 2399 DPI people and staff from supporting agencies and industry in the Varroa mite response team have been working around the clock since last year on this program and I thank them for their incredible effort,” Director General of the DPI Scott Hansen said. 

“They have succeeded in delaying the spread of Varroa mite for more than a year which needs to be recognized.” 

While a comprehensive management framework is still being developed, there are new, interim freedoms and guidelines for beekeepers, according to the NSW DPI Deputy Director General Biosecurity and Food Safety Dr John Tracey. 

“The only Management Zones will be in the existing Emergency Eradication Zones in the Kempsey, Hunter and Central Coast regions,” Dr Tracey said.  

“Free movement will be allowed within Management Zones, and movement outside Management Zones will be allowed under risk-assessed permit conditions.” 

“The rest of the state will be classified as being in the Suppression Zone, where hive movements will be allowed so long as movement declarations are completed.” 

Dr Tracey said the interim management arrangements are designed to balance risk with business continuity.  

“Beekeepers in all current Emergency Eradication (red) Zones will have the option of voluntary euthanasia of hives and subsequent access to Owner Reimbursement Compensation payments if they meet certain conditions,” Dr Tracey said. 

“NSW beekeepers have been through a lot over the past fifteen months, so I want to remind them to reach out to DPI as we have a range of tools to support them through these challenging times.”  

Under the interim strategy, all beekeepers in NSW will still be required to complete hive testing (alcohol washing, soapy water wash or miticide strip and sticky mat) and report results to DPI every 16 weeks.

Where results indicate a mite infestation DPI will supply miticide strips to be installed in infested hives.  

Hive movement declarations must be submitted to DPI for all movements of hives and all miticide treatments must be recorded and reported to DPI.