American foulbrood is a highly contagious bacterial disease of bee brood caused by Paenibacillus larvae, notifiable in most producing countries, with spores persisting for decades and infected colonies typically destroyed by burning.
In trade practice
Honey buyers sourcing from Ukraine should request apiary health declarations confirming freedom from American foulbrood, as contaminated apiaries are placed under movement restrictions. Veterinary authorities issue official notifications, and beekeepers must maintain inspection records. A common oversight is accepting honey without verifying that the supplying apiary has a current clean-health status from the relevant national veterinary service.
In a specification
Purchase specifications for honey may require a supplier declaration or official veterinary statement confirming that source apiaries have no current or recent American foulbrood restrictions.