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"Burning the hives was more painful when other countries used tools like vaccines, antibiotics and sterilisation - measures prohibited in New Zealand and in som

"Burning the hives was more painful when other countries used tools like vaccines, antibiotics and sterilisation - measures prohibited in New Zealand and in some export markets. "Most farmers vaccinate their cows for diseases every single year, but it's illegal to vaccinate the hive," Brown said." My understanding is the vaccine was only just approved last year in the US, it's the first of its kind, and it might not even be commercially available on a widespread basis yet. It's it really illegal to vaccinate the hive in New Zealand? It seems odd that a vaccine would be illegal if it was just invented last year. Even in areas where the vaccine is legal, it's not going to save an already infected hive. I'm not familiar with the sterilization techniques the beek alludes to. I assume some jurisdictions allow irradiation for remediation. It seems most jurisdictions require killing the bees, then burning the frames, and charring the inside if the hive body. It seems other remediation methods are less common.

NoNotTheDuo 2y ago
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.
- giantg2 2y ago
  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.
- mschuster91 2y ago
  > 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.
- xkcd-sucks 2y ago
  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

NoNotTheDuo 2y ago

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.

giantg2 2y ago
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.
mschuster91 2y ago
> 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.
xkcd-sucks 2y ago
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