Is Oxalic Acid Legal?

[David LaFerney]

Just wondering.  Oxalic acid is clearly in pretty wide use, but I've never seen it mentioned as to if it's legal to use on honey bees or not.

[Kathyp]

it is not approved for use in the US.  if you are going to market your honey, keep that in mind. 

[David LaFerney]

it is not approved for use in the US.  if you are going to market your honey, keep that in mind. 

That's what I was afraid of.  So, the next best legal thing?  Formic acid?

[Kathyp]

my choice would be apiguard.  it's probably the least harmful to man and beast.  it is temp dependent, so you have to decide if it will be convenient for you.   i have used it with good results before i quit treating.  it's what i would use again if i needed something.

[Michael Bush]

Dish soap is not an approved pesticide for fruit trees, but it's commonly used, and harmless...

[Finski]

it is not approved for use in the US.  if you are going to market your honey, keep that in mind.  

You should know that carrot has 100 times more oxalic acid than honey.

In European Union  it has been decided that the oxalic acid will be not tracked from honey because it does not make any threat to consumer.

http://www.ema.europa.eu/pdfs/vet/mrls/089103en.pdf

Another:
http://www.apimondia.org/apiacta/slovenia/en/nanetti.pdf

.

[Finski]

..
Be carefull when you look results what means g and mg  in 100 g or in 1 kg.

mg / kg =   1 m/ 1 000 000 mg

g / kg =  1 g / 1000 g


Carrot has 0,5 % OA and lettuce 0,3% . It means  500 mg / kg and  300 mg/kg.

After treatment in exctracted honey the rise of OA was 0,6 mg or less.

natural concentration of OA in human tissues is 0,6-4 mg/kg.

[Kathyp]

what you and MB say is true.

that was not his question.

[Robo]

Just wondering.  Oxalic acid is clearly in pretty wide use, but I've never seen it mentioned as to if it's legal to use on honey bees or not.

It is legal to use as a wood bleach on your woodenware.

[David LaFerney]

Just wondering.  Oxalic acid is clearly in pretty wide use, but I've never seen it mentioned as to if it's legal to use on honey bees or not.

It is legal to use as a wood bleach on your woodenware.

Excellent answer!

[David LaFerney]

what you and MB say is true.

that was not his question.

Correct, thank you.   What are the repercussions really of using something that is not approved, but believed to be harmless?   What would a state inspector say if you owned up to using OA or some other non-approved treatment.

[David LaFerney]

it is not approved for use in the US.  if you are going to market your honey, keep that in mind.  

You should know that carrot has 100 times more oxalic acid than honey.

In European Union  it has been decided that the oxalic acid will be not tracked from honey because it does not make any threat to consumer.

http://www.ema.europa.eu/pdfs/vet/mrls/089103en.pdf

Another:
http://www.apimondia.org/apiacta/slovenia/en/nanetti.pdf

.

You know Finski, I'm just as confident that OA is safe (because it is used in Europe) as I would be if the USDA did approve of it.  Maybe more so. 

It probably isn't approved here because it's too inexpensive. 

[buzzbee]

Powdered sugar is also not usda approved as a mite treatment that I know of. I think don't ask,don't tell!!

[David LaFerney]

Powdered sugar is also not usda approved as a mite treatment that I know of. I think don't ask,don't tell!!

But it's already accepted for human consumption so it's automatically exempt.  I think it works like that anyway.

[Michael Bush]

It can be argued either way.  You can argue that you are using something as a pesticide (powdered sugar) that is not approved as a pesticide.  That is, technically, illegal.  Or you can argue that if I get powdered sugar (or oxalic acid) in my honey there was already sugar (and oxalic acid) in my honey and the amounts that were added are well within the range of what occurs naturally.  You can also argue that as long as you are not SELLING it as a pesticide, you don't really fall under EPA regulations on the matter.  But in the end the Bureaucrats decide what THEY think it means...

[Finski]

Is it legal to drive car overspeed and still every one drives.


It was a guy who got a Ferrari for test drive.
He drived on highway. It was so fine experience that he added speed, more and more.
Soon he saw in the mirror that police is following.
He thought what then. I leave him and he accelerated.

The police hang still after and the man must pull off.

- Hey man, why you drive so awfull speed.
- Sorry Mr. police. This is so fine car that I must.
- The Police admired the car too and he feel pity because that was a honest man.

- OK. If you give me a good explanation, I give to you only a warning. This is late Friday afternoon and
  I will not make paperworks any more.

The man thought a while and they he gove a new explanation:

- My wife left me two weeks ago with one policeman and when I saw the police car following,
 i thought that now the police is returning the woman.

.

[annette]

 :lau: :lau: :lau:

[Kathyp]

good one, finski :-)

it's always better to keep what you do to yourself.  this would apply to OA and most other things  :evil:

[Scadsobees]

Is it legal to pour gas on a ground bee nest? (I'd guess no!)

But then again most people don't probably eat ground bee nests. :roll: