Yes, beekeeping is legal in Romania, but subject to veterinary, environmental, and local administrative oversight. The activity falls under the 2026 amendments to Law 449/2002 on Beekeeping, aligning with EU directives while introducing stricter sanitary controls. Beekeepers must register hives with the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) and comply with zoning rules enforced by county councils.
Key Regulations for Keeping Bees in Romania
- Registration and Health Compliance: All beekeepers must declare hives annually to ANSVSA via the National Beekeeping Register (REN) and undergo mandatory health inspections under Order 16/2023 to prevent Aethina tumida (small hive beetle) outbreaks.
- Zoning and Distance Restrictions: Local ordinances (e.g., Bucharest City Hall Order 21/2024) prohibit hives within 50m of residential areas, schools, or public spaces unless enclosed in screened apiaries. Rural counties may impose stricter 100m buffers near livestock farms.
- Pesticide and Forage Restrictions: Use of neonicotinoids within 3km of apiaries is banned under Government Emergency Ordinance 3/2025, and beekeepers must ensure access to pesticide-free forage zones as per Ministry of Environment Decree 512/2026.