Technical Information

Background to BDI

BDI logo

Bee Diseases Insurance (BDI) was registered in its present form in 1937. Almost certainly BDI would have been formed by an enthusiastic band of beekeepers who were keen to share their hobby with others and wanted to contribute to the health of bees and the enjoyment of beekeeping. In other words they would have been people just like us. These first members formed themselves into a Society registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act. The oldest set of rules we have are dated 1955 and the original objects of the Society are described as:-

( i ) Provision of insurance against losses suffered by beekeepers through bee diseases.

( ii ) Promotion of other measures for mitigating the losses suffered by beekeepers through bee diseases.

( iii ) Promotion of research relating to bee diseases and of measures for their prevention, cure, control and eradication.

In the 1971 rules a fourth object appears;

(iv) The carrying on of such other work as can be carried on appropriately with the foregoing to benefit beekeepers in England and Wales.

BDI operates throughout England and Wales. To cover such a large area is obviously quite an administrative problem. Luckily BDI had an already established backbone for the organisation in the form of the founder beekeeping associations. We still do not employ any staff but work through a network of hundreds of unpaid volunteers. They are; the Treasurers of Beekeeping Associations who collect the subscriptions and forward the money to BDI’s Treasurer, the Officers and Management Committee Members who meet regularly to transact all the business of BDI, and many other unseen unnamed volunteers who give their time to BDI. The contribution of the Bee Diseases Inspectors who in addition to their DEFRA duties help us with the claim forms is vital to the operation of the whole scheme and we are so grateful for their time and expertise.

The Committee are chosen because of their interest in and knowledge of the work. Some may be very knowledgeable of a particular aspect of beekeeping such as bee diseases. Others may have professional knowledge of the Insurance business, banking, finance or company law - but they are all beekeepers.

Our total income from subscriptions and additional premiums is about £35,000 per year. The payment of claims and expenses had for several years exceeded the total raised. Fortunately we had reserves to cover the deficit but they too were severely affected by the stock market collapse at the beginning of the Millennium. We hope soon to be able to resume funding research into the foul brood diseases. Since 2005 we have been able to offer some modest sponsorship to the BBKA Spring Convention, The Welsh Convention and the National Honey Show. We hope to be able to carry on this support which gives some benefit to all beekeepers and to those who are unaffected by the foul brood diseases who might otherwise feel there are no benefits to the scheme.

Our logo was designed by our members and with the tag line, “For Bees, Education, Protection and Research” is part of our identity. The Bee Diseases Control Orders of 2006 are the Statutory Instruments which imposes the obligation to call in the Bee Diseases Inspector if we think we may have a Foul Brood Disease. It is the loss arising from the destruction of equipment following these diseases that is compensated by BDI.

Not surprisingly we often receive questions from Associations and individual beekeepers relating to the compensation arrangements. Here are some of the questions frequently posed together with the answers:-

BDI Questions and Answers

Who Owns BDI?
The owners of BDI are the Member Beekeeping Associations.

BBKA Partnership Members

Member Associations of BDI are not required to be members of BBKA, although we know many, if not most, are also BBKA members. The issue of whether or not a person is in a partnership for BBKA purposes is immaterial for BDI purposes. BDI looks to Member (Owner) Associations to determine and subscribe what is due for each of their members. The need for a BDI subscription and any additional payments is determined by the Member Association in compliance with BDI rules and the Association's own rules.

The question for the Association is: Do we regard the person as a member of our Association? If the answer is "Yes", then BDI follows.

If the answer is "NO" The Association may wish to consider if the following:-

(a) Does the individual have voting rights in the Association?

(b) Are they treated differently from an ordinary member?

(d) Do they pay a full member's subscription to the Association?

Should all bees on a communal site be covered?
A communal site is a permanent site which is shared. We do not believe that it was ever thought that a communal site would be other than a site where stocks would be immediately next to each other i.e. within a few feet and no division between them. In any case it is likely that the person sharing the site will be a member of your Association and so should have covered their bees. We do not think that this has ever been a problem. So the answer is, yes; all bees on a communal site should be covered by BDI whether they are kept by a member of your association or not.

The rates of compensation are too low!
The compensation rates are less than the price of new equipment but beekeepers often buy second-hand equipment or make their own at a very much lower price. For 2009 the rates are approximately 90% of those shown in a well known supplier’s current price list. We intend to maintain this relationship in the future.

Are Apideas or other mini nucs covered?
Apideas are not included in the compensation rates and they do not therefore have to be counted as a colony.

How many colonies should I cover?
It was because beekeepers found they had underestimated the numbers to which colonies would increase during the season that BDI introduced the banding scheme to help ensure that beekeepers who collect swarms or make artificial swarms or nuclei during the season do not find themselves with inadequate cover. If, for example, you normally run 10 colonies but have the equipment and facilities to have more, you should perhaps pay for 15 at an extra cost of £2.50 in 2010 - not much to pay for an extra 5 hives. The important thing when considering how many to cover is to make an accurate count of the starting number of colonies and then to add the plans, hopes or expectations of increase in the coming season.

Are Snelgroved (and Taranoved) colonies covered?
It has been agreed by the Management Committee that these will be covered, provided, of course, that they were counted in as one colony when deciding how many colonies to cover.

Should a Nucleus Box be counted?
Yes. A single nucleus box contains frames etc which are included in the compensation scheme and should be included. Each nucleus counts as one colony.

If I take swarms during the year will they be included?
If the swarm is collected with the intention of keeping and hiving it then obviously it becomes part of your property and you should have allowed for this possible increase when calculating your dues. If, as often happens, you collect a swarm and before it is hived, pass it on to another member who is short of bees it is the responsibility of the new owner to cover them.

If I only have four colonies why do I have to insure for five colonies?
Experience shows that a number of beekeepers consistently under-pay by not declaring all colonies they actually have. Sometimes this happens because they collect and keep a swarm, or have one given to them, which they did not expect to keep. It is to help beekeepers avoid this problem that banding was introduced. It seems to be working because the number of cases of underpayment has fallen since banding was introduced.

Will the compensation be paid if I under-state the number of my colonies?
The scheme can only operate with members acting in good faith and to knowingly under-pay is to breach the basis of trust on which the scheme operates. It means that other beekeepers have to pay more to make up for the subscriptions that are lost as a result of the underpayment. Consistent underpayment will result in any claim for compensation being rejected.

Similar rules apply to most forms of compensation arrangements nowadays. However the Managers of our schemes have always dealt with cases on an individual basis exercising discretion where appropriate and where the beekeeper has acted reasonably, they will continue to do so.

Will you change the terms of the scheme if they are not what we want?
BDI is run by beekeepers for beekeepers and the terms of insurance are not set in tablets of stone. However the Officers may be personally liable if the Society is not run on a sound financial basis. It is essential therefore that beekeepers pay the correct dues for their colonies. If the Associations or beekeepers have ideas for improving the terms of the scheme please let us know. Provided they are practicable, do not contradict the registered rules of the Society and appear to be the wishes of the majority, then you can expect the Management Committee to do their best to implement the proposals.

What about Small Hive beetle and the Tropilaelaps mite?
The committee have decided that there should be a scheme in the event of theses pests coming to England or Wales. As with varroa if they do come, they may well become endemic and have to be managed as an element of routine beekeeping practice. Compensation for Small Hive Beetle and Tropilaelaps infestation is consistent with BDI’s founding principles that a compensation scheme encourages beekeepers to come forward if there is any cause for concern. It was agreed that BDI cover should be extended from 2006 to compensate for the statutory destruction of colonies, hives and equipment on account of either Small Hive Beetle or Tropilaelaps infestation.

A contingency fund is to be established initially capped at £25,000. This sum is to be reviewed annually. The scheme will operate by providing compensation based on condition of equipment, (Excellent -- As new, Good or Poor as certified by the Bee Inspector), with a maximum of £75 per hive. The amount of compensation will be limited to the smaller of the maximum compensation amount determined by BDI or by a pro rata percentage of agreed sums so that the contingency fund is not overspent. This means that if the total amount of claims exceeds the level of the contingency fund, some compensation will be available to all those affected. The actual payments will be calculated on a percentage basis to the full amount of the claim. The effect of this is that payments under these arrangements will be made annually when all claims for the year have been determined.

Should these pests become endemic and statutory control abandoned, the BDI compensation provision will cease.

Brood Diseases Cover through BDI Ltd
The owners of BDI are the Member Beekeeping Associations. The minimum payable by each Member Association as a condition of membership is £2.00 per annum for each of its members which cover three colonies.

Members of Associations must have cover for all their colonies by making the following additional payments:

Up to 5 colonies (including the basic three) an additional £2.00
Up to 10 colonies (including the basic three) an additional £5.25
Up to 15 colonies (including the basic three) an additional £7.75
Up to 20 colonies (including the basic three) an additional £9.50
Up to 25 colonies (including the basic three) an additional £11.10
For 26 colonies (including the basic three) and up to a maximum of 39 please consult your Association Treasurer or the person in your Association who deals with BDI subscriptions.

There are two Schemes - A & B:
Scheme A is for beekeepers with up to 39 colonies, who are members of an association.
Scheme B is for beekeepers with 40 or more colonies, who may or may not be members of an association Scheme B is managed by Mrs Sharon Blake, Stratton Court, Over Stratton, South Petherton, Somerset, TA13 5LQ phone: 01460 242124, E-mail: m-s.blake @ overstratton.fsnet.co.uk.(Anti-SPAM remove spaces and last dot)

Claims under both schemes are managed by Bernard Diaper, 57 Marfield Close, Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B76 1YD, Tel: 0121 3133112, E-mail: bdi @ bee-dee.co.uk.(Anti-SPAM remove spaces and last dot)

Roy Norris
Article updated January 8, 2010

Technical Information

Background to BDI

BDI Questions and Answers

BBKA News Headlines