I have a vaporizer and I have used it in my hives. If asked I usually say that I am bleaching my woodenware. I had someone really give me a hard time about using it, After an argument about this I decided to look into it a little further. So I wrote to the EPA Pesticides Department about of label use of Oxalic Acid. Here are the responses they gave me:
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Ticket #: 23002-490311
Date Created: 2/17/2014 09:09 PM EST
Subject: Oxalic Acid for varroa mite
Question: I am trying to find out about using Oxalic Acid for the treatment of Varroa Mite in Honey Bee colonies. I understand that it is used safely and effectively in most of the world for controlling varroa mite. I have been told that it is illegal to use in the US. I have been unable to find anyone who can produce any actual code or law to such effect. Can you provide me with more information?
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2/21/2014 5:10 PM EST Response Sent Pesticides17
Thank you for writing to ask the Environmental Protection Agency about oxalic acid for varroa mite control in honey bee hives. I apologize for the delay in responding.
Federal law requires that before selling or distributing a pesticide in the United States, a person or company must obtain registration, or license, from the EPA. Oxalic acid was previously registered by the EPA for other uses (e.g. a toilet bowl cleaner and disinfectant), and in 1992 the agency determined that oxalic acid was eligible to continue being registered. At that time, there were five EPA-registered products containing oxalic acid. Since that time, all of the manufacturers voluntarily cancelled their registrations. Currently, there are no federally registered products containing oxalic acid as an active ingredient, so it would violate both federal and state laws to manufacture, distribute or sell pesticide products containing oxalic acid. Since there are no registered products containing oxalic acid, the EPA has no health or safety information from which to draw a conclusion.
I hope you find this information useful. Please write us again if you have additional questions.
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2/21/2014 7:01 PM EST Reopen
In reading the information that you provided I am still unclear about using oxalic acid. I do understand clearly that it would be it would violate both federal and state laws to manufacture, distribute or sell pesticide products containing oxalic acid.
What I am trying to find out is whether or not I can use it for myself for the purpose of killing mites in my bee hives in my own backyard.
So to be clear, I am not talking about selling, packaging, or labeling it for any purpose. What I am trying to find out about is the legality of personal use.
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2/25/2014 4:47 PM EST Response Sent Pesticides17
We have responded to your inquiry.
Thank you for your follow-up question.
While the agency does regulate the sale and distribution of unregistered pesticides, it does not regulate the personal use of unregistered pesticides. There may be unidentified hazards associated with the personal use of products that are not registered pesticides, but it is not a violation of Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act for you to personally use the chemical. However, since bees produce honey, there may be food or other consumer product purity considerations under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act if you sell honey or any other hive products. It is also worth noting that this response only addresses federal laws and regulations. You might consider contacting your state pesticide regulatory agency to ask if any state laws apply.
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I followed this up by writing to my own state's EPA to see if it was against State law but have not yet received a reply.
At this point I would assume that the only problem would be if there were elevated concentrations of it in the Honey. Since I would never use it with supers on I would'nt think that would be a problem.
So the way I read it, You can use Oxalic Acid if you want to. What you can't do is PACKAGE or SELL it as a varroa mite treatment.
Alfred Westlake