Comment NOW on Registering Oxalic Acid for Varroa Control

[ski]

Anyone can submit a comment on getting OA approved for use in bee hives.
I, and I am sure others have received this E-mail from Bee Culture that makes it pretty simple to send in a comment.
I have sent mine in.
Ski



CATCH THE BUZZ

Comment NOW on Registering Oxalic Acid for Varroa Control.

This information provided by The Pollinator Stewardship Council. Support their work here.

Oxalic Acid has been used in the UK for about ten years; in Europe it has been used for at least 20 years. It is highly effective; kills varroa by dessicating the mouthparts, and only affects honey bees in a very minor way. In the UK a beekeeper stated there are three methods of applying oxalic acid:
• Vaporization (rarely if ever used these days - too technical, expensive and “fiddly” - hot metals and electricity involved)
• Spraying (rarely used - danger of breathing in spray or contaminating eyes)
• Trickling. This is the standard method - easy, cheap, no heat or electrics needed, no masks, no eye protection. With trickling, you simply trickle an oxalic acid/ sugar solution into each “seam” of bees.

For a US beekeeper’s input on using oxalic acid go to Scientific Beekeeping . . . http://scientificbeekeeping.com/oxalic- ... f-2-parts/ and http://scientificbeekeeping.com/oxalic- ... f-2-parts/

Approval of the application for the registration of oxalic acid use would give U.S. beekeepers another tool in their fight against Varroa. It is however, not a remedy which will be utilized by all beekeepers. Beekeepers know what is best for their honey bees. A reduction of Varroa mite population is the key to healthy honey bees. The beekeeper’s voice is the most important one here: make yourself heard. Your comments must be received by the EPA by March 6th.

Applications for new active ingredients (Other products are part of this application for “new active ingredients:” the link to the docket is below.)
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDe ... -0043-0001

Your comments must be received on or before March 6, 2015.

Make the beekeeper’s voice heard. Send your comment today.


The process is fairly simple and we have drafted a letter for you:
1. Copy the text of the letter below
2. select the link to the Docket at Regulations.gov
Applications for new active ingredients (Other products are part of this application for “new active ingredients:” the link to the docket is below.)
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDe ... -0043-0001
3. select the COMMENT NOW button on the right side of your screen
4. paste the letter into the Comment box
5. add your own comments – this is very important. They want to know what YOU think also.
6. and follow the prompts to submit your comments at Regulations.gov
7. your comment will appear within 24 hours in the docket.
Copy the text below, then paste it into the comment section at Regulations.gov (use this link http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDe ... -0043-0001 )
Susan Lewis, Registration Division (RD) (7505P)
Office of Pesticide Programs
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.
Washington, DC 20460-0001


Re: Docket ID number: EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0043; Oxalic Acid Dihydrate.

Dear Ms. Lewis,

Registering oxalic acid to aid beekeepers in controlling their Varroa mite populations is an important tool in managing the health of honey bees. Beekeeping is a diverse industry of commercial, sideline, and backyard beekeepers. Our honey bees encounter different stresses; pests, pathogens, pesticides, and poor forage in varying levels of severity. The registered use of oxalic acid will be another tool to help beekeepers. As a beekeeper, I may not use this pending registered product, but other beekeepers will need to use it. Honey bees experience a broad area of the environment, and work tirelessly to pollinate our crops and wild lands. Having another tool to aid in controlling Varroa mite would help reduce the pest and pathogen stress upon our honey bees.

I support the approval of oxalic acid for in-hive use to control Varroa mites.


Formally

[Wally]

You should post this on the other 3 forums, too.

[ski]

You are more then welcome to cut and paste for the other forums.

[Wally]

You must have misread my post.

[ski]

It does appear that OA has been approved for use in Bee Hives.


http://www.beesource.com/forums/attachm ... 1426094292






CATCH THE BUZZ

Oxalic Acid registered as a varroa mite control

Over 250 letters were received by EPA when we asked for beekeeper input. The response was overwhelmingly positive and EPA, working with Canada’s Regulatory organization feels Oxalic Acid, when used in accordance with label instructions, is safe for bees, beekeepers and the environment. It will be available to treat packages, colonies as an additive to sugar syrup or as a fumigant. Read the entire report here.

Stay tuned to Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping for all the latest news.