Regional Law No. 46 “On apiculture”.

This Regional Law regulates relations originating in the process of bee raising regarding honey bees (Apis mellifera), use thereof for pollination of entomophilous plants, obtaining ecological apiculture products, protection of honey bees, safeguarding rights and legal interests of natural and legal persons carrying out bee raising activity, and also safeguarding rights and legal interests, life and health of persons living nearby apiary sites. Veterinary supervision in the sphere of apiculture, realization of preventive arrangements for combating honey bee diseases and control over usability of apiculture products for alimentary purposes shall be carried out by the regional veterinary inspection. Owners of apiary sites must be in possession of sanitary and veterinary certificates for apiary sites owned thereby, which must be issued by the regional state veterinary institutions (art. 4). Bee farmers shall have the following rights: (a) place stationary apiaries on land plots in their ownership, lease or tenancy; (b) place mobile apiaries by written consent granted by owners, leaseholders or tenants of agricultural land, forest land or urban land irrespectively of the place of registration of bee families; (c) require state support; (d) obtain veterinary assistance; (e) obtain information of state of environment and risks for bees from state bodies; and (f) set up beekeepers associations (art. 5).