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Comment by NoNotTheDuo | Hacker News Reader

It's probably a case where it's illegal to vaccinate the hive, because it's not explicitly legal to vaccinate the hive.

For example, in the US, it's legal to use brand name "API-Bioxal", which is Oxalic Acid, to treat for varroa mites. However, one can head to their local hardware store and buy generic "Wood Bleach", which is also Oxalic Acid. It is not legal to use the wood bleach to treat your hive, even though it's the same chemical compound.

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> However, one can head to their local hardware store and buy generic "Wood Bleach", which is also Oxalic Acid. It is not legal to use the wood bleach to treat your hive, even though it's the same chemical compound.

It's not, or to be more precise: there is no certification testing done to make sure the "wood bleach" is just oxalic acid and that's it. The stuff you can buy at a veterinarian, however, is certified to be 6% oxalic acid, 47% water and 47% sugar, and nothing else.

TL;DR is (1) none of these methods effectively control transmission of AFB, and (2) AFB is taken extremely seriously. Like, where I live there is a state law allowing ag inspectors to burn hives at their discretion overriding any fire codes in effect

The vaccine thing seems to be extremely new and probably isn't validated enough re: transmission

Yeah, I guess I read it more strictly. It sounds like it would be unlawful but not really illegal.

I think it's lack of availability is just the fact that it was first approved anywhere just last year.

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