How much does it cost to be B‑QUAL Certified?

Initial Cost

• Self-Learning Pack: $300.00 Inc. GST
• Initial/ On-going Audit Fee: $520 (+ GST)

Approximate only: four(4) hours with travel included; any variation relates to size and scope of enterprise; and, other activities that may be relevant to the participant.

Annual Membership Fees

Beekeepers (Over 50 Hives)

• Annual Membership Fees: $175.00 + GST

Recreational Beekeepers (Less than 50 Hives)

• Annual Membership Fees: $75.00 + GST

* A biennial audit (every two-years) is an option if a honey producer has undertaken an audit in the previous year, without any issues having been identified. This is only available to a producer who sells directly to an individual packer. Sales must be accompanied by a vendor declaration; and, it must also confirm that honey has not been sold directly to the public.

Training Manual

The B-QUAL Training Manual contains all documentation for Certification.

The package includes:

• B-QUAL Self Learning Program - Unit 1 and Unit 2
• B-QUAL Approved Supplier Reference Manual
• Exemplar Quality Manual
• Honeybee Disease Barrier Management Systems
• AgGuide Honey Harvesting and Extracting
• Biosecurity Code of Practice
• Safe Food Australia – Food Premises and Equipment

Enterprise Auditing

Each B-QUAL Certified enterprise is visited biennially or annually to monitor compliance to their approved QA system. Audits are conducted by B-QUAL auditors contracted to AUS-QUAL Pty Ltd as the National Service Provider (NSP). Biennial auditing is available under certain conditions; however, B-QUAL reserves the right to audit all participants through an annual surveillance program as they determine from time to time.

Enterprises that do not follow the required standards, will be visited more frequently to assist them with changes to maintain Certification. These additional audits are charged at full commercial rates.