As a food producer you have responsibility to known what you are putting into the food chain. Do you know who made your OA and what else is in it?
I’m sure you remember what happened to Murray a few years ago and he was trying to work with the agencies
Lol....that was 11.5 years ago now. The industry knew the correct story and circled the wagons admirably.
However..to Finny...I have an OA supplier in the UK who I can get (in theory of course!) 20Kg of OA dihydrate for GBP 64.50 including UK delivery. 20Kg goes quite a long way as a wood bleach.
As for the licensing of OA products (there is more than just api bioxal)...this is a stark example of how we get shafted in this country.
Until some bright spark decided to licence an OA treatment nobody was bothering about beekeeper use of the substance. Its is something found in honey anyway in small amounts. So there was NO pre existing imperative to prevent its use in beehives...and it is a cheap and fairly effective product used correctly.
Rather unfortunately, a figure in the amateur bee trade (maybe several but I know specifically of one) decided (anecdotal) we needed a licensed treatment for OA. There is something fishy about that but never got to the bottom of it. Its a long story I am not party to all of and in any case it makes my eyes glaze over...Upshot was Api Bioxal.
Now this is where the UK is a bit like a banana republic. They now work on user pays..as do many departments. Bees are crucial to the environment and crop pollination, our inputs to the economy far outweigh what we get out ourselves, so they (VMD) 'graciously' agreed to a reduced fee (still a lot). but this is almost like a tax on the product. Unlike VAT, which they charge on top, the fee is part of the product cost, so it multiplies at every step in the sales chain. If the fee comprises 40p a dose at the source cost, every time it is sold on the margin of the trader applies.....so by the time the beekeeper buys it he is paying a lot simply for the VMD approval and then VAT in addition.....tax on 'tax'. To most of you the distinction between VAT and VMD fee will be irrelevant as both are non recoverable but VAT registered people can get the VAT back...most bee farmers will. So at least half your cost goes..one way or the other...into the coffers of those professing to help us. Like fuel costs...most of it is duty and then they charge you VAT on top of the tax they are already charging...ouch!"
Part of the deal means that if you license a product all other non licensed formulations, including home made, despite being perfectly ok to use before immediately become non legal. (this is a grey area..they were never approved treatments..they just knew it was happening and did not act as there was no need to). The paying of a fee includes the understanding that any similar product not paying a fee will be enforced against. It is almost like a protection racket......
Upshot was a product for simple use was 35 times the cost one day than the same active substance was the day before. Not helpful...money right out of all of our pockets. A tax. On people they admit are contributors to the national wellbeing.
If there was nothing wrong with OA before the licensing of a product there is nothing but a red tape/financial barrier to it now. It is almost corrupt.
Its the same for other varroa treatments...........SO expensive here..and illegal to import them as the law specifically states that buying from a channel that circumvents the UK channel (which pays for the VMD) is not allowed...and cost is directly mentioned as one of the criteria that cannot be taken into account, so no matter how much the UK supplier charges..they have you by the sensitive bits. This is a seriously expensive country in which to be a beekeeper.
Going back all these years......when I privately sourced what had already been prescribed but not yet supplied...it was not animal health rules I infringed. It was the Finance Act. That's somewhat simplistic, but it was deemed a 'red tape offence' in court.
Its all about the money.
, if nothing else it may serve to shut up the self righteous, or at least keep them at bay for a day or two.
