B-TRACE Australia

Varroa testing and Reporting

You will need to check with your individual state requirements, as it is different in nearly all jurisdictions….

The common requirement is that any positive result must be reported in all jurisdictions.

In terms of recommended methods only, alcohol wash or drone uncapping are acceptable.

• At this stage it is only Victoria that recognise drone uncapping as a valid surveillance tool. 
  
• In NSW, if you find a mite through drone uncapping then you must do an alcohol wash to validate mite loadings.  This is because there has not been any work done to understand the correlation between drone uncapping numbers and mite loadings in hives.
  
• SA is silent at this stage about valid methodologies.
  
• QLD are recommending that beekeepers should do both alcohol washing AND drone brood uncapping.  They do not mention sugar roll as an option!

Reporting of negative results is voluntary in all jurisdictions at this stage to the best of our knowledge.

You will find the B-QUAL app useful to keep your records and if unfortunately, you need to report mite sightings the app will notify your state authority automatically.

Audits:

B-TRACE members are advised that it is a requirement to complete an online audit yearly. If you have not yet done your audit, please email admin@btrace.com.au and request an audit form.

B-QUAL B-TRACE update.

Website access

We have had a number of members trying to log into the hive management app using their web site member account details. Please note – The website and app are not connected and have separate log in details.

To log into the B-QUAL/B-TRACE hive management app the following procedure should be followed.

To log in for the first time, you will need B-QUAL to set you up with an account by sending you an email asking you to set your password. Click on the link in the email to set your password. Once you have set your password, visit  https://bqual.app to complete your profile and data entry. 

If you did not receive or answer the initial email, please advise our office admin@bqual.com.au and we will resend to enable you to set up your account.

The web page member section requires a separate account. Click on the members section and complete the account creation form.

Membership Subscriptions

Reminder that B-QUAL annual subscriptions are now due. If you have not yet paid please help us by completing your payment as soon as you can.

New Board Member appointed to the B-QUAL Board.

Lindsay Callaway

• 5th generation Apiarist, Owner, Warral Maldon
• Executive Member, Australian Honeybee Industry Council (AHBIC)
• Imported Honey sub-committee member
• Board Member, Vice President, Victorian Apiarist Association Inc (VAA Inc)
• Voting Delegate to AHBIC
• Chair VAA Inc Constitution & Legal sub-committee
• Chair VAA Inc Conference sub-committee
• Regional Representative for Bendigo Branch VAA Inc
• Committee, Treasurer, Maldon Inc, local chamber of commerce

______________________________________________________________________________

Lindsay Callaway is the current owner and managing director of Warral Maldon, based in central Victoria with over 5,000 hives and 15 permanent staff in his team.

Warral Maldon found its beginning with Edward Teague Penglase in 1896 – Lindsay’s great-great-grandfather, making him the fifth-generation owner. Growing up in the industry, Lindsay inherited his love of bees from his dad, Roger and has continued his legacy of innovation and excellence in the beekeeping profession.

As a 17-year-old, some 33 years ago, Lindsay started his career working within his family business, succeeding first his mother, Edna and then his father Roger to become sole owner of the business in 2007. 12 years ago, Lindsay project managed the construction of Warral Maldon’s 1000m2 purpose-built HQ at 35 Boundary Rd, Maldon. A world-class facility.

Warral Maldon’s purpose is to team up with nature to ensure high-quality apiary products and large-scale pollination services that are true to their H.I.V.E. values, global standards, and customer expectations. History, Apiculture with passion for five generations. Innovation, leading global apiculture in innovation and standards. Vision, we are fearless decision-makers. Excellence, driving continuous improvement from treetop to tabletop. Warral Maldon has been an accredited BQual member for close on 20 years and its current BRCGS global food standard is AA-rated.

Lindsay is constantly on the hunt for the best when it comes to his business, from hive production and transportation, equipment standards and biosecurity, to honey and beeswax processing, queen bee breeding, research, and quality standards. His world-leading hive transportation system was captured in a shareable PDF, presented at the 4th Australian Bee Congress in Sydney, and paid forward for others in the industry to use.

Lindsay is happiest when out on the road with his bees chasing honey flows and is passionate about sharing what he’s learned to benefit the wider industry and tackling its biggest challenges together as a community. Lindsay recently rafted the Franklin River with his son, both taking in the beauty of the river while envisioning a new and improved way to manage large-scale pollination. Lindsay sees the importance of the honeybee industry as something that is far greater than we can imagine. He sees his purpose within the industry is to help take the industry as high as possible. He believes the industry’s true value to humanity on a worldwide scale needs to be realised.

For generations, most people had little knowledge or even cared about where honey came from, how it was collected, processed, and packaged. Most people had a distant view of beekeeping generally. But in the last 10 years or more, the awareness and role of bees have heightened enormously. So now there’s a lot of interest in bees, and saving bees, how we need bees for one third of our crops, need bees to pollinate. “

Certificates and licences.

• Long-standing member of B-QUAL
• FDFFS2001 Implement the food safety program and procedures,
• FBPFSY3001 Monitor the implementation of quality and food safety programs,
• FBPFSY3002 Participant in a HACCP team,
• FDFPPL3005A Participate in an audit process,
• RTE30103 Certificate III in Agriculture,
• RTE40103 Certificate IV in Agriculture,
• Biosecurity for beekeepers
• Certificate of appreciation as a valued member deployed at the state Biosecurity Coordination Centre for the 2022 AG Vic Varroa mite response,
• Department of Primary Industries varroa mite online training.
• Agricultural chemical users permit (ACUP)

Awards:

• Inaugural Australian beekeeper awards program, Runner Up, 2022
• Regional Achievement and Community Awards, Finalist, Leadership and Innovation, 2022.
• Mount Alexander Business Awards 2023, Winner, Creative Marketing

Overseas Industry tours:

• New Zealand, 2017, Apiculture New Zealand, National Conference, beekeeper visits.
• United States, 2019, Aussie Beekeeper Tour, over 3 weeks of beekeeping-related visits.
• United States, 2023, AgriFutures grow AG Australian Innovation Immersion Tour.
• New Zealand, 2023, Aussie Beekeeper Tour, 10 days of beekeeping-related visits.

Minimising RISK with Fair Work and WorkSafe Claims against your Business.

Every business in the country reports to at least 3 regulatory authorities:

• The ATO.
• Fair Work and
• WorkSafe.

The ATO is the easy one. The Accountant puts it in place and we follow the bouncing ball.

Fairwork and WorkSafe are the hard ones. With contains changes, the requirement for Policy, Process and Proof, it represents SUBSTANTIAL RISK for Business Owners.

If you would not dream of having an Accountant when these two regulatory authorities are the hard one, it is important to GET SUPPORT!!

Getting support

Considering the ever-changing HR and OH&S landscapes, it is important for Business Owners and Operators to stay ahead of the curve and understand the impact of legislative changes upon their business. It is also a statutory obligation for all businesses to have a compliant OH&S system.

It is our intention to both proactively and strategically protect the business owners and operators regarding HR and OH&S. It is important for us to assist our members in having the relevant Policy, Process and Proof to facilitate this.

That is why we work with you 24/7/365. It is also our intention that these systems assist with enhancing the return on investment form your labour fixed costs, which I personally feel more than covers the cost for this compliance.

We are here to take work off your table and provide you with the peace of mind and confidence that you are supported and protected as both a business and an individual.

We provide peace-of-mind and confidence.

Peninsula is “NOT” a Government organisation. We are a proudly independent company helping Business Owners proactively and strategically protect their businesses regarding HR and OH&S.

Let us take the load.

Peninsula will work with you to navigate and manage confusing workplace requirements. We are here to support YOU. 

How does it work?

By advising, assisting and supplying robust Policy, Process and Proof, (record keeping systems).

We take a huge administrative component from your business. By customising and providing employment documentation including contracts, employee handbooks, employee letters and correspondence, performance management and disciplinary materials and a variety of other bespoke materials.

By providing 24/7 advice and support in relation to FairWork and Work Safe legislation, compliance, managing employment relations matters and holding difficult conversations. In fact, anything to do with Employment Relations and Work Health and Safety.

Providing access to our Award-Winning Legal Partner for legal representation.

Safeguarding our clients against the financial costs of workplace claims. This is subject to the terms and conditions of the attached PDS.

PLUS our BrightSafe and BrightHR Software Solutions, which can help you get on top of Work Health and Safety compliance, rostering, leave management, expense management and document management. 

Additional resources for review

Please take a moment to view this short video clip.

Please also click on the following link for Trustpilot reviews. We have an excellent 4.8 stars out of five across over 1800 reviews.

https://au.trustpilot.com/review/employsure.com.au

With over 31,000 clients just like you, Peninsula is a brand you can trust at a price you can afford.

Get in touch for details and to sign up

Office: Phone: 07 4994 9820

B-QUAL email: admin@bqual.com.au

B-TRACE email: admin@btrace.com.au

Join B-TRACE QA and Food Safety Program:

“Accurate record-keeping is the backbone of a successful food safety program.”

Food safety is crucial for maintaining health standards and ensuring that food doesn’t cause harm to consumers. One vital aspect that everyone involved in food production, from farmers, food manufacturers, and beekeepers must focus on is strict record keeping. Joining the B-TRACE QA and Food Safety Program is one way to help achieve this goal and enhance food safety practices by using the B-TRACE hive management app.

The B-TRACE program encourages small medium enterprise beekeeping operators to put reliable, systematic practices in place to ensure that all aspects of food safety are handled correctly.

What is B-TRACE?

B-TRACE could stand for “Building Traceability Assurance for Compliance and Excellence.” The program is designed to equip beekeepers with the tools and knowledge they need to ensure food safety from apiary to consumer.

The primary aim of B-TRACE is to enable operators to track and monitor every aspect of honey production. This includes gathering, processing, packaging, and distribution. Keeping accurate records allows businesses to pinpoint any problematic areas before they lead to significant issues. 

Why Join B-TRACE?

There are several reasons why being a part of the B-TRACE QA and Food Safety Program is beneficial:

1. Enhanced Safety Standards:

By joining B-TRACE, you align your practices with industry standards that emphasize food safety and quality.

2. Improved Traceability:

With the use of the B-TRACE hive management app you can easily trace products. This is critical in the event of a food recall.

3. Better Consumer Confidence:

When customers know that a company is dedicated to safety, they are more likely to trust its products.

4. Regulatory Compliance:

Participating in B-TRACE helps ensure that your organization meets all industry standards and  requirements for food safety and record keeping.

Statistics show that businesses with strong record keeping are less likely to experience safety violations. Keeping accurate records allows companies to identify trends and improve their safety protocols effectively. As part of B-TRACE, you will have access to templates and software designed to simplify this process.

Benefits of Effective Record Keeping

1. Liability Protection:

In case of illness reports or food recalls, having excellent records can protect your business legally.

2. Operational Efficiency:

When everything is documented, it becomes easier and quicker to find crucial information, thereby allowing for better decision-making.

3. Employee Training:

Records provide a history of incidents and safety measures. They are valuable tools for training employees on food safety practices.

4. Quality Control:

Systematic record keeping can help identify areas for quality improvement.

Make the move now contact BTRACE via www.btrace.com.au or phone 07 4994 9820

Notices

B-TRACE Audits.

If you have not yet submitted your online audit for the current year, please do so to keep your accreditation up to date.

The online audit form is available in the member section of the B-TRACE website or alternatively, contact admin@btrace.com.au and we will email one to you.

Once completed email back to the office.

Allow 5-7 days for audit review and issue of the accreditation certificate.

B-QUAL and/or B-TRACE logos.

Pre-printed logo labels are available from the office.

B-TRACE 30mm lid labels full colour $26.50/1000                                              

B-QUAL  12mm jar labels full colour $ 22.50/1000.

If you are printing your own labels high Res’ artwork is available free of charge.

B-QUAL Self Assessments.

If you have purchased your Approved Supplier Manual but not yet submitted the self-assessments, you cannot proceed with further certification until self-assessments are submitted.

The assessments are in the first section of the manual. Complete both assessments and send to admin@bqual.com.au for review and certificate issue.

If you have any queries about assessments contact admin@bqual.com.au for further assistance.

Members section of websites.

To access the member section of the B-QUAL and B-TRACE websites you need to create an account.

To do this email the office requesting an account for either website.

Once the account is set you will receive an email requesting to log in and change the initial password. Remember that you must have a separate account for the members section, your app or other passwords will not work.

Our Sponsors:

We acknowledge and thank Steritech and the CMV Group for their valuable ongoing support of B-QUAL and B-TRACE which assists us to continue to participate in research and industry development works which we see as important to our industry.

Please support those who support us.

Contact details

General enquiries for B-QUAL & B-TRACE:

Office: All enquiries. Phone: 07 4994 9820

B-QUAL email: admin@bqual.com.au

B-TRACE email: admin@btrace.com.au

 Newsletter disclaimer:

Material and information published in the B-QUAL newsletter is produced for general information only. Although published in good faith, the company and/or any officer of the company will not be liable for any loss suffered by any person for action taken on the basis of such information.