since 1995

USA THE USE OF FORMIC ACID AND THE MITEGONE DISPENSER BY BEEKEEPERS IN HIS OWN HIVES IS LEGAL. MITEGONE IS AVAILABLE IN THE USA

MiteGone liquid dispenser and evaporator pads can be ordered from MiteGone in bulk boxes or ready-to-fill kits. They will be delivered to you via Courier from our US distribution center usually within five days.

Formic Acid and MiteGone in US (The whole story):

Cost of Treatment:

Prices:

How to Order:

Associates – Distributors – Sources of Acid:

The Competition:

REGULATIONS AND POLICIES:
It is unfortunate that the US beekeeping industry, professional apiarists, USDA, bee-labs, and both associations cannot get together and do what Canadians did in 1994: exempt formic acid from pesticide regulations. See C94-05.

1. The MiteGone dispenser and method is a dry liquid evaporator with a variable evaporating rate that does not require specific registration for use in beehives. When it is sold, it does not contain formic acid. The beekeeper soaks the pad in formic acid or fills the ready-to-fill-and-use dry kits.

2. The EPA ruling on the MiteGone product and method reads: "It has been determined at the EPA that your product [MiteGone] is an application method of applying a pesticide. As such, it is neither a pesticide nor a device regulated by this agency. Thus, you are free to market it in this country [the USA] as long as you do not include formic acid with it.”

3. Using formic acid by the beekeeper is similar to using Borax or Baking Soda to kill ants, or using sugar dust or soy flower in dusting methods to control Varroa; neither is registered as a pesticide. It is your decision to use acid and you are not subject to registration.

4. The food regulatory agency is listing the available tolerance of formic acid in foods. Therefore using formic acid in beehives is legal; there are no laws, which you will be breaking using formic acid when treating your own hives.

5. The problem is that formic acid is not registered as a pesticide. Formic acid is an unregulated product that is generally sold by many chemical suppliers for many uses. Only the manufacturer and seller, if they advertise acid as a pesticide, are obligated to register the acid. There is no monetary incentive for anyone to register liquid formic acid alone, however, several beekeepers were refused sale of acid. The competition is informing acid suppliers and telling them not to sell acid to beekeepers otherwise they will be fined. This is based on the EPA ruling: “If the manufacturer or seller is aware of beekeepers using formic acid as a pesticide then that manufacturer is obligated to register the acid otherwise he will be subject of regulatory action.” This makes acid difficult to obtain.

• US Pricing and Associate Program

• Acid use is legal in USA
  A full story on the mess the US is in. The truth and myths about legality. Originally published in Bee Culture Magazine, March 2004, Page 37