The Foundation is delighted to announce that its request to designate the Maltese Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri) as the National Insect of Malta by the Environmental and Resources Authority, has been positively evaluated! Now, our request will proceed to the public consultation step as outlined in Article 55 of the Environment Protection Act (CAP. 549).
Since launching this initiative, the Foundation has repeatedly explained countless times that only benefits towards the local apiculture sector, will come out of it! Article 8(d) of S.L.549.120 is clear and states that there must be “compatibility between the current use and conservation“. This in effect means, that in terms of bee colony management, everything will remain the same; only now the Maltese Honey Bee will be granted a more prestigious status! This in turn should serve as a catalyst for shifting mindsets when it comes to conservation. Not to leave any doubts, this clause is better explained in the proposed amended law. It is clear that beekeepers will not be expected to change their honey bees, even if they are of foreign origin. Furthermore, no additional bureaucracy or other license will be required to keep honey bees.
Our initiative is edging closer to becoming a reality! We invite everyone to participate in the public consultation, which would elevate the status of our precious endemic honey bee! More information can be found here: https://era.org.mt/declaration-of-the-maltese-honey-bee-as-a-national-species/
19 February 2024 (updated) – The Hon. Dr. Miriam Dalli, Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Regeneration of the Grand Harbour, is also endorsing the initiative. On the 19th of February 2024, she launched the Public Consultation during an event held in Buskett, attended by students from Birkirkara and Ħal Safi primary schools. During the event, the Minister stated, “We aim to designate the Maltese bee as Malta’s national insect, which is why we have initiated a public consultation period lasting four weeks. We have chosen to commence this consultation with children, whose diverse ideas and perspectives are invaluable to us.”
8 March 2024 (updated) – Our feedback
The Foundation is delighted to see that its request to designate the Maltese Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri) as the National Insect of Malta by the Environmental and Resources Authority, has been positively evaluated and that now is at a public consultation stage. As of today, 61% of all Regional and Local Councils have officially supported this initiative, along with organisations, academics and other distinguished individuals.
We would like to draw your attention to certain inaccuracies in the Maltese text. For the correct terminology, kindly refer to the Glossarju ta’ Termini Marbuta mal-Apikultura by Victoria Christine Buhagiar (2017, University of Malta). The following corrections should be made:
ġelatina rjali = ħalib in-naħal
propolis = żaftura
xema’ tan-naħal = xama’ tan-naħal
Furthermore, under schedule 1(b), it states that the Maltese name for Apis mellifera ruttneri is in-naħla; in-naħla ta’ Malta. This is incorrect. The actual name, according to the same study, is in-naħla Maltija, whereas in-naħla just refers to the bees and not specifically to the Maltese Honey Bee.
Regarding the Maltese Crab designated as the National Invertebrate, the title should be amended to the National Crustacean. Both the Maltese honey bee and the Maltese crab are invertebrates. As it is, it gives the crab a higher hierarchy in the national status over the Maltese Honey Bee.
Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee 
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