Federal Law No. 490-FZ “On apiculture”.

This Federal Law establishes the legal framework for development of beekeeping as an agricultural activity, as well as activities aimed at the preservation of bees. The objectives of this Federal Law shall be to ensure the production of bee products and the preservation of bees. Apiculture shall be intended a set of economic activities defined on the basis of the All-Russian Classifier of Economic Activities as a totality of economic activities related to breeding, keeping, and use of bees, including for the pollination of agricultural crops, production and processing of bee products, including provision of services in the aforesaid sphere. Bee products shall be intended honey, wax and other products, defined in accordance with the All-Russian Classifier of products. This Federal Law regulates relations, arising in connection with the implementation of activities in the field of beekeeping, as well as the preservation of bees. Agricultural land and other land categories shall be authorized for use for apiculture, if the implementation of apiculture, if their regime of land tenure allows it, as well as the use of land plots provided or acquired for apiculture is also allowed to use land plots provided or acquired for the purpose of smallholding. The requirements for the location of apiaries are established by the federal body of executive power responsible for developing state policy and normative legal regulation in the sphere of agriculture. It is prohibited to locate apiary infrastructure on land plots that have been used for the placement of cemeteries, burial grounds, disposal facilities for industrial and consumption waste, chemical, explosive, toxic, and poisonous substances, radioactive waste disposal sites. Agricultural producers engaged in apiculture are the owners of beekeeping products, obtained as a result of their activities. It is prohibited to use for the treatment of bees the drugs that have not passed state registration in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation. This Law consists of VI Chapters divided into 18 Articles. Chapter I lays down general provisions. Chapter II establishes economic grounds for apiculture. Chapter III regards apiculture management. Chapter IV establishes the procedure for apiculture management. Chapter V regards conservation of bees. Chapter VI lays down final provisions.