After article 2 of the Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Scotland) Order 20072 insert—

“Reporting of Varroa mite (Varroosis)2A.

(1)

Any owner or person in charge of a hive who knows or suspects that any species of the Varroa mite is present in the hive must report, as soon as practicable, that fact to the Scottish Ministers.

(2)

A person reporting under paragraph (1) may submit to the Scottish Ministers samples of—

(a)

any bee pest to establish if it is any species of the Varroa mite; or

(b)

any other thing, including soil, to establish if it is infected with any species of the Varroa mite.

(3)

Any sample submitted under paragraph (2) must be packed in a way which prevents, as far as possible, the risk of the spread of infection during transit.”.