The Agriculture Department has urged farmers to avoid using bee‑toxic plant‑protection products during the flowering period, warning that such spraying is prohibited under national law.
The advisory comes as fruit trees enter full bloom and beekeepers move hives closer to orchards and other crops.
The department said pesticide labels clearly state any restrictions designed to protect pollinators and reminded farmers that failure to follow these instructions constitutes an offence under the Plant Protection Products Law of 2011.
Professional pesticide users — including farmers, gardeners and municipal workers — must also notify nearby beekeepers before carrying out any spraying so that precautionary measures can be taken, the department said.
Beekeepers, meanwhile, are required to mark each apiary with their name and address and ensure that every hive carries the official identification code issued by the department, allowing authorities to trace ownership if hives need to be moved.
The department asked beekeepers to inform district agricultural offices immediately if an apiary must be relocated for any reason, so officials can update registration records.