Coronavirus: Beekeepers can also go to the apiary

The Ministry of Health finally clarifies one of the issues that has most animated beekeeping social networks in recent weeks: can or cannot hobbyist beekeepers go into apiaries to check on their bees? The Ministry's note addressed to all national beekeeping associations has, fortunately, resolved the issue in favour of hobbyists. The doubt arose because hobbyist beekeepers, i.e. those who keep bees for passion and self-consumption, are not VAT-registered. This posed a problem when it came to justifying their movements in this period of lockdown and closure of most of Italy's productive and commercial activities. Since they could not, in fact, invoke the 'proven business needs', how could they legitimise their movements?

A lack of intervention by the beekeeper, in fact, could result in the loss of spring and summer honey production, but also in health problems that could extend beyond the individual apiary. Damage to neighbouring hives would thus generate a potentially destructive cascade effect for the entire sector. It is therefore possible for hobbyist beekeepers to visit their apiaries, but they must pay attention to filling in the self-certification form. In fact, it is necessary to tick the 'situation of need' box and always carry a copy of the declaration to the National Beekeeping Registry, which testifies to the presence and location of the apiary being visited. In contrast to hobbyists, beekeepers with a regular VAT number must instead tick the box "proven business necessity" and carry with them the declaration to the Anagrafe Apistica Nazionale (National Beekeepers' Register) and the VAT number document.

It remains the cardinal principle to limit visits as much as possible, going to the apiary only when strictly necessary, in order to reduce travel as much as possible. At this particular time, to remotely monitor the productivity, health and activities of their hives, the 3Bee beekeeping scales with remote monitoring system via app could prove extremely useful. This technology allows the beekeeper to limit trips to the apiary to the bare essentials, organising in advance the work to be carried out on the next visit, allowing him to expose himself as little as possible to contagion and devote himself to family life with peace of mind. These days, too, the 3Bee team is operational, to ensure maximum assistance to beekeepers and help them with any needs.