Constitutional Court nullifies Gmunden district bee disease regulation from March 2023
Austria's Constitutional Court declared unlawful a March 2023 regulation by Gmunden district authorities concerning control of American foulbrood (a serious bee disease). The ruling was issued on 16 June 2026 and is now officially published.
What changed
A regulation issued by the Gmunden district (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) on 30 March 2023 in its official gazette (Amtsblatt) concerning measures to combat American foulbrood in bees has been struck down by Austria's Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) as unlawful. The court's decision was delivered on 16 June 2026.
Who is affected
Beekeepers and others subject to the Gmunden regulation, as well as the district authority itself, are affected by this nullification. The regulation can no longer be enforced from the date of this official publication.
What to look out for
Anyone previously required to comply with that Gmunden regulation should understand it is no longer valid. If you were fined or ordered to take action under it, you may have grounds to challenge those decisions. Check with local authorities for any replacement rules on bee disease control.