Practical Guide: 4.11 Purchase and sale of bees
The purchase and sale of bee colonies must be carried out transparently, with knowledge of their health status, origin, and treatment history. The summary below is based exclusively on the official checklist 4.11 of the Swiss Beekeeping Service (BGD/SSA) and refers to the complete documents for further information.
Official Practical Guide (BGD / SSA) – Summary
Practical Guide: 4.11 Buying/Selling Bees
- Principle: Colonies offered for sale must be healthy and accompanied by complete information on their health status, origin, and treatments carried out. Both buyer and seller are responsible for ensuring a transparent and fair transaction.
- Seller's obligations:
- Know the health status of the colony (varroa treatment, absence of contagious diseases).
- Provide complete information on queen age, colony vigour, store levels, and all relevant characteristics.
- Document treatments carried out and important observations.
- Buyer's obligations:
- Verify the condition of the colony before purchase (health, population, brood).
- Clarify the price and terms of the transaction.
- Inspect the colony after purchase and ensure its successful integration into the beekeeping operation.
- Contract & documentation: The transaction should be formalised in writing or at minimum well documented (purchase contract, handover record) including location, date, parties involved, and colony condition.
- Animal health & reporting obligations: Prior to transport and sale, the seller must certify that the colony is free from contagious diseases. Cantonal and cross-cantonal reporting obligations must be complied with; suspected cases must be reported to the veterinary authorities.
- Transport & handover: Transport of colonies must ensure the safety and welfare of the bees (adequate stores, secured hive, entrance closed, protection against impacts).
- Liability: Buyer and seller must clarify liability issues in advance (health status, queen loss, store levels) in order to avoid misunderstandings.
► Official Practical Guide PDF (FR)
► To the official Practical Guides page (abeilles.ch)
Note: Section Beekeeping Management and Practical Guides → 4.11 "Buying/Selling Bees".
Summary based on Practical Guide 4.11. Last verified: 01/2026.
See also:
- Practical Guide: 4.7 Colony Assessment and Selection
- Practical Guide: 4.1 Hygiene
- Practical Guide: 2.8 Varroosis
- Practical Guide: 4.9.1 Migratory Beekeeping