Australian states and territories are expected to revoke a ban on New South Wales bees and hives in the coming weeks.
It comes after authorities voted to declare the NSW General Emergency Zone, or blue zone, free of the deadly varroa mite.
NSW Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said the unanimous decision meant neighbouring state borders would reopen within weeks to allow bee movement for pollination operations.
"It's particularly important for those in Victoria and Queensland that have actually had hives in NSW that have been stuck here entirely since June 2022, since that discovery was made, and have not been able to come and retrieve hives," Mr Saunders said.
"At the same time it provides a bit more security and surety for pollination industries and for the honey industry."
The varroa destructor mite was first discovered at the Port of Newcastle in June, and a total of 107 premises have been infected since.
In 2022, states and territories banned the entry of bees, hives and products, including honey, from anywhere in NSW to curb the spread of the mite.
Mr Saunders said the new "risk-based approach" provided some travel freedom to bees in low risk areas if beekeepers filled out a hive movement declaration.
"This does not mean it's a free-for-all in the bee world," Mr Saunders said.
"You will still need to be applying for a permit to move hives, particularly from NSW back to say Victoria, but there will be a very simple system to do that."
The state government said it would work with South Australia, Victoria and Queensland to develop conditions for the interstate movement.
Surveillance still needed
The change in rules came after surveillance on roughly 32,000 NSW hives, with beekeepers completing alcohol washes on more than 85,000 hives.
NSW Apiarists' Association president Steve Fuller said no traces of the mite had been detected in the blue zones.
"They need to still do surveillance, they still need to apply for permits, and traceability is a must in case something is detected later on," Mr Fuller said.
"So, they've got to abide by whatever is put in place."
However, Mr Fuller said he expected it would be years before bees in red and purple emergency zones could move freely.
"We've got to actually show that we are absolutely clean, so that's three years of no detections," he said.
'A long way to go'
Concerns had been raised after it was found just half of the state's 15,000 registered recreational and commercial beekeepers had reported their mandatory 16-week alcohol wash results.
"Expectations are that bee keepers have been doing it but not in every single case are they then reporting it back to DPI," Mr Saunders said.
"We really need that to happen as part of the process."
Mr Fuller said despite the announcement, beekeepers should not let their guard down.
"We've got a long way to go yet," he said.
"If we have missed it, it could bite us on the rear end real quick."
