I only moved to Denmark 15 years ago so trust me i know the size difference. Moving the hives from one state to another with out ensuring first that they aren't taking something with them is part of the problem.
I think Germany has the same rule as Denmark does with regard to moving hives. In Denmark we also aren't allowed to import bees from another country into Denmark with out a permit. If you think of European countries like American states you would understand the idea. You cant take fruits and veggies and loads of other things from one Country to another without them being checked for the same reason. What these big out fits are doing is hurting the local bee populations it doesn't hurt them because they are so big. Its the Local bee keeper and the wild populations we should worry about.
Just because something is hard and will cost money and take time does not mean its a bad idea.
Linda.
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Linda, at the risk of sounding completely boorish, you have absolutely no idea what your talking about. We do have checkpoints at different state lines for various fruits, veggies, and different plants. Bees, however are required to be checked every year for diseases and state apiarists can and are required to confiscate and burn every hive that tests positive for AFB. Bees however, know how to fly, and try as we might, we've not been able to get them to recognize state lines. As for your postulation that the bigger companies aren't affected, nearly ALL of them lost at least 90% of EVERYTHING! Some never have recovered. CCD has affected the entire world ..and Denmark is no exception. Denmark actually had a huge increase in bee losses the last few years. It isn't the "big outfits", once it hit, companies completely isolated hives that were state approved healthy and still they lost 90 and even 100%, like I said, you have no idea what your talking about.
David