Closing the Northern Ireland Loophole: A Call to Protect Britain’s Honey Bees
- B4 Project
- May 29
- 8 min read
Updated: Sep 24
For many decades, Britain has built robust biosecurity systems to protect our bees from devastating pests and diseases. Imports of honey bee queens into England and Wales from third countries had to pass through Border Control Points like Heathrow, be registered with the National Bee Unit (NBU), and to undergo inspection.
However, Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol unintentionally created a dangerous loophole - one that is now being heavily exploited.
Since 2021, honey bee queens have been imported into Northern Ireland from across the EU, including Italy, Greece, Hungary, Denmark, and Malta. These queens are then sold on to England, Scotland, and Wales,by implication as "produce of Northern Ireland" - bypassing the full UK biosecurity controls.
The scale of the problem is exploding:
There was no significant history of queen imports into Northern Ireland prior to Brexit
8,000 queens were imported into Northern Ireland in 2021.
By 2024, that figure had jumped to 22,000 queens.
In addition, over 1,000 packages of bees (not just individual queens) were imported into Northern Ireland in 2021 and re-exported to Britain.
There is no requirement for inspection or disease testing on arrival in Northern Ireland. In fact, there are currently no bee inspectors operating in Northern Ireland at all.
Meanwhile, back in England and Wales, only a tiny fraction of shipments are inspected:
In 2025 so far, 1,790 queens were imported into England and Wales from Denmark, Greece and Italy - yet only three consignments (out of 10) were inspected and just four samples inspected.
This is in stark contrast to twenty years ago, when every consignment underwent inspection and screening.
There is no record of the final destination of queens imported via Northern Ireland. It is believed that almost all are sent to Great Britain, with negligible numbers staying in Northern Ireland or going to the Republic of Ireland.
A Clear and Present Danger
The risk is enormous. Two highly dangerous pests are of immediate concern:
Small Hive Beetle (Aethina tumida) has been established in southern Italy since 2014 and recently detected in Sicily - where some Maltese imports may originate.
Tropilaelaps mites (Tropilaelaps mercedesae), long thought unable to survive temperate climates, were confirmed in southern Russia and Georgia in 2024, within striking distance of Europe. New research shows they can survive in conditions similar to the UK.
Moreover, there are concerns that queens exported from countries like Malta may not have originated there at all - some may come from Sicily (small hive beetle zone) or even Ukraine (where tropilaelaps may now exist).
UK Risk Assessments for both small hive beetle and tropilaelaps have not been updated since these threats reached Europe.
If either pest became established in Britain or Ireland:
Honey bee colony losses could skyrocket.
Commercial beekeepers would face catastrophic financial impacts.
The future of our native dark European honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) would be put in even greater peril.
There is good evidence that previous threats such as the devastating varroa mite (Varroa destructor), Kashmir bee virus, and Israeli acute paralysis virus all arrived in the UK via imports.
Not Just About Disease - Genetic Survival at Stake
The influx of imported queens from southern Europe is also causing genetic damage through introgression - the loss of locally adapted traits vital for survival in our climate.
As the B4 Project, BIBBA, and leading researchers such as Professor Grace McCormack and Dr. Ralph Büchler of COLOSS have shown, locally adapted native bees survive longer, need less management, and are far better suited to resist varroa and future threats.
Protecting the UK’s remaining native and near-native bee populations is critical - not just for sustainable beekeeping, but for broader ecological and food security reasons.
Our Demands
The B4 Project calls for urgent action by the UK government:
Immediate closure of the Northern Ireland loophole for bee imports.
Full inspection and sampling of every import shipment into Great Britain.
Mandatory tracking of final destinations of imported queens.
Urge the reinstatement of bee inspectors in Northern Ireland.
Promotion of local queen breeding programmes to reduce dependency on risky imports.
We Must Act Now
The Northern Ireland Protocol was never intended to be a backdoor for uncontrolled live animal imports into Great Britain. Yet, it is now being exploited on an industrial scale.
If we allow it to continue, we risk sleepwalking into disaster - a repeat of the devastation wrought by varroa 30 years ago, but this time it would be even worse.
For the sake of our bees, our ecosystems, our agriculture, and future generations, we must close this loophole now.
Who supports B4's efforts?
Frequently Asked Questions
Isn’t this just about trade — why make it political?
Not at all. This petition is focused solely on biosecurity. It's not about creating borders or questioning Northern Ireland’s constitutional status. The concern is that queens imported into Northern Ireland from the EU may not be inspected upon arrival, and when they move on to Great Britain, they do so without further checks or tracking. This bypasses the biosecurity framework that has protected UK beekeeping for decades.
Aren’t these bees already checked by vets in Europe through TRACES?
Vets may inspect bees prior to issuing a TRACES certificate, but TRACES itself is a record-keeping system, not an inspection regime. It logs shipments but does not guarantee that each queen has been physically inspected, nor does it test for viruses or trace movements once bees reach the UK. In fact, movements from Northern Ireland to Great Britain are not even logged in TRACES, leaving a major gap in surveillance and traceability.
If the system is flawed, why not just fix TRACES or drop the requirement to change attendants?
While those ideas are worth exploring, they don’t resolve the core problem: once bees enter NI, there is no bee inspector present to examine them, and no mandatory tracking of where those queens go when they leave for GB. Even direct imports into GB are now only partially inspected — in early 2025, only 1 of 7 consignments was physically checked. What's needed is a return to comprehensive inspection and proper record-keeping, regardless of the route.
Wasn’t small hive beetle already caught using the current system — doesn’t that show it works?
The detection of SHB in Portugal in a queen cage was a lucky near miss, not a routine success of the system. A beetle was found squashed under fondant — had it not been visible, it may have passed through undetected. Early-stage SHB or Tropilaelaps infestations are extremely hard to detect, especially without destructive testing or field training — the kind not routinely done on UK imports.
Is there really evidence that this loophole is being used at scale?
Yes. Prior to Brexit, there was no history of queen imports into Northern Ireland. Since 2021, imports have exploded — rising from 8,000 queens to over 22,000 in 2024, according to data supplied by DAERA. These queens are then moved into GB without inspection or tracking, and no record exists of their final destination. This scale of unmonitored movement is unprecedented.
Why should this matter to me if I only keep bees locally or focus on native bees?
Because pests and pathogens don’t stay local. The introduction of a pest like SHB or Tropilaelaps or different strains of varroa into the UK would affect all beekeepers, including those working to protect and conserve native Apis mellifera mellifera or those attempting to produce varroa tolerant bees. Commercial, hobbyist, and conservation beekeepers all share the same landscape — and the same risks. Once established, these pests are almost impossible to eradicate.
So what exactly is the petition calling for?
The petition asks the UK Government to:
Close the loophole allowing unchecked imports via Northern Ireland.
Reinstate full inspection procedures for all honey bee imports.
Ensure that bee inspectors are in place in Northern Ireland.
Require traceability of queen destinations post-import.
Support local bee breeding efforts instead of relying on high-risk imports.
Who supports this petition?
This petition is backed by members of the beekeeping, scientific, and conservation communities, including individuals with expertise in bee health, pest control, and genetics. It reflects concerns raised by figures such as Norman Carreck and Maggie Gill, and many more, all of whom have expressed deep concern about the current lack of safeguards.
Do the figures include both third country imports and EU trade?
Yes – the published figures represent the only available data and are understood to include both real imports from third countries and intra-EU movements.
Where do imported bees arrive when entering Northern Ireland?
According to DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs), all bee imports must enter Northern Ireland via the sea ports of Belfast or Larne. More details can be found in the official guidance:🔗 https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/honeybee-and-bumblebee-imports-and-exports
How do bees typically arrive in Northern Ireland – by air or sea?
In this case, the consignments are believed to have arrived by sea, though air transport might ordinarily be expected for live queen bees.
Were these consignments sent directly to Northern Ireland?
Yes, the records indicate that the bees arrived directly into Northern Ireland.
Are the reported figures for queens alone, or do they include attendants?
The figures refer to queens, but the standard TRACES certificate includes queens with up to 20 attendants. So while the number of queens is accurate, each unit likely included additional bees.
Are inspections or checks carried out at destination in Northern Ireland?
This is currently unclear. The regulations state that:
For EU-origin bees, consignments must be made available for inspection.
For bees from GB or third countries, importers must send packaging/cages to a designated lab for diagnostic checks.
However, there are currently no bee inspectors in Northern Ireland, raising serious questions about whether any inspections or follow-ups have taken place this year.
Have there been issues with inspections in the past?
Yes. In 2021, three batches of bees arrived in GB from NI:
The first batch was inspected in NI.
The second was inspected in GB, under a special arrangement.
The third batch was not inspected at all.
Can bees from Northern Ireland be freely moved into Great Britain?
Yes. The regulations explicitly allow "unfettered market access" from NI to GB. This loophole has enabled the movement of bees into GB without proper oversight, which is one of the main concerns prompting ongoing petition and lobbying efforts.
Are TRACES certificates a reliable safeguard?
Concerns have been raised. A former NI Bee Inspector highlighted several weaknesses in the system, including:
Possibility of different batches being substituted post-inspection
Inconsistent inspection of all mini-nucs
Risk of post-inspection contamination
Delayed detection of notifiable pests like Small Hive Beetle or, in future, Tropilaelaps
The conclusion: The current system is not fit for purpose, particularly given the lack of statutory oversight in Northern Ireland and the increasing volume of queen imports.
Some queen sellers advertise Swedish Elgon queens – is Sweden listed as an exporter?
No. The National Bee Unit’s import records do not list Sweden as an exporter to the UK for any year, including 2025. If these Elgon queens are genuinely from Sweden, it’s unclear how they are entering the country. A likely explanation is that they are imported into Northern Ireland first, then transferred to GB without official recording.
What about Primorsky (VSH) bees – are these really from Russia or the USA?
Primorsky VSH bees were originally developed by the USDA in the United States, starting with Russian stock. However, no bee imports from the USA have been recorded in the UK for many years. If these bees are being sold in the UK, their true origin is unknown, and again, import via NI may be the route being used to bypass direct declaration and inspection.
Are claims of inspection by GB importers reliable?
Not always. Some companies claim that all imported queens are inspected on arrival by the NBU. However, if these queens are routed through Northern Ireland, that would not be possible under current arrangements. This raises serious questions about the accuracy of such claims.
Why is Northern Ireland a concern for bee imports into GB?
Bees imported to Northern Ireland (NI) can then be moved freely into Great Britain (GB) under "unfettered market access" arrangements. This movement is not recorded by the NBU, and no inspection is guaranteed because: DAERA (the NI equivalent of DEFRA) currently has no bee inspectors; GB authorities have no power to inspect bees arriving from NI.
This has become a significant loophole in UK biosecurity.
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