There seems to be a notion that the rules against the importation of bee
sperm into USA is unfair and understandable and that it is totally safe.
This is what I think
 
The importation of germplasm, although probably at low risk of carrying
viruses and bacteria, (although not totally) has it's biggest problem in
the genetic material which it contains. This germplasm has the potential
to produce offspring which may behave in strange and unpredicatable
ways. In the case of the honey bee this is very important, and in many
ways this issue needs tougher legislation for the honeybee than for
other agricultural species.
 
Once introduced, alien germplasm will be very difficult to remove from a
population of honeybees, where it is impossible to contain or totally
control the matings with the native/feral population. This is not so
important for instance in cattle semen importation, as the offspring are
not going to range around the countryside uncontrollably, or hide up
trees etc.
 
There are probably many other points also relevant to your question of
which I have no knowledge. But I hope this goes some way to explaining
why people are concerned with this matter, and why control is so very
important.
 
Steve Pearce
 
University of Dundee
Scotland