The Bee Diseases and Pests Control Orders 2006 contain sixteen Articles that oblige beekeepers to adhere to certain rules:

• Article 1 - Title, Commencement and Application.
• Article 2 - Interpretation.
• Article 3 - Notification of Suspicion of a Disease or Pest.
• Article 4 - Prohibition on Removal.
• Article 5 - Marking of Hives and Appliances.
• Article 6 - Notices Prohibiting Removal.
• Article 7 - Disease Control Measures.
• Article 8 - Pest Control Measures.
• Article 9 - Notices Served Under Articles 7 or 8.
• Article 10 - Declaration of Infected Area.
• Article 11 - Imported Bees.
• Article 12 - Provisions of Facilities and other obligations.
• Article 13 - Action in default.
• Article 14 - Service of notices.
• Article 15 - Exemptions.
• Article 16 - Revocations.

To full text of the Orders is available here for England and here for Wales. The Orders were amended in 2021 to include the requirement to report Varroa mites: The Bee Diseases and Pests Control (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 and The Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2021.

Details of how to report Varroa in line with the requirements of the legislation can be found on our Report Varroa page.