The introduction of foreign bees for agricultural pollination raises two major concerns: accidental introduction of pests, diseases, and parasites; and potential competition with native pollinators. Alfalfa seed production in Australia yields only one-third of that in North America, one of the main factors being poor pollination. In 1995, Pioneer Hi-Bred International and International Pollination Systems-U.S.A. applied to the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) for permission to import the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (F.), from Canada into Australia to improve pollination of alfalfa. A team comprising representatives of Australian seed producers, the Australian beekeeping industry. Environment Australia, and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization examined the issue and advised AQIS to allow limited importations in 1998 of Canadian alfalfa leafcutting bees. A rigorous protocol was required to ensure other organisms were not released with the bees, which involved obtaining high-quality Canadian stock, providing cold storage to eliminate mites, using Vapona treatment to control parasitoids, and dipping adult bees in sodium hypochlorite or iodine to kill chalkbrood spores. In 1998, 200,000 Canadian alfalfa leafcutting bees were released in Australia; in 1999, that number was increased to 650,000. Poor recoveries are leading to additional research.