Committee chairman, Dick Adams, said bees were vital to the future of Australian agriculture and the economy.

"We must do all we can to ensure the future viability of the Australian honey bee industry.

"We must also protect Australian honey bees from the impact of invasive pests and diseases such as Varroa Destructor.

"If Varroa reaches our shores it has the potential to devastate our agricultural industries."

The inquiry has examined the honey bee industry in terms of:

*Its current and future prospects

*Its role in agriculture and forestry

*Biosecurity issues

*Trade issues

*The impact on land management and bushfires

*The research and development needs of the industry

The committee will take up the work of its predecessor and use the large volume of evidence collected to produce a report which it will table in coming weeks.

"The Australian honey bee industry faces many challenges but also real opportunities for growth and development," Mr Adams said.

"It is up to governments, the honey bee industry, and the pollination inf=dustry more broadly to work together to ensure that the opportunites are grasped and the challenges overcome for the benefit of all."