Are there official checks and standards for beehives?

MY NEIGHBOUR has installed about 100 beehives in his garden in what look like old wooden packing cases, about 100m from my house. The noise is scary and I am worried about danger to members of my household if the bees swarm. Do the authorities check or regulate beekeepers and is there any way to check on whether my neighbour has met the necessary standards? M.S.

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HIVES are not subject to regular inspections but they do have to respect certain rules.

Notably, the Code Rural (laws on rural life) sets out certain rules on the distance that hives should be from neighbours’ properties. However, these are not standardised; article 206 says that prefects are able to set rules on this, following advice from the departmental council.

Article 207 states that mairies are also meant to set out local rules on the safe use of hives, ensuring protection of people and animals and preservation of harvests and fruits. This includes setting a distance limit if none has been set at departmental level. Your mairie should be able to inform you as to the ones applicable in your area.

However, the law says in this case the distances do not apply if the hives are surrounded by a solid fence, a hedge or wall at least 2m high.
Your mairie would also be the right port of call if you have general safety concerns about the hives.

Beekeepers are also required to declare their hives, including number and location, to the Agriculture Ministry on an annual basis between September 1 and December 31 each year.

They are issued with a beekeeper’s ID number called the NAPI number, which identifies them to the ministry. This is required even if the hives are for personal use. The ministry branch responsible is DGAL (Direction Général de l’Alimentation, infodoc@agriculture.gouv.fr 01 49 55 49 55).

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