To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will extend the licence for production of oxalic acid api-bioxal in a manner that would encourage a wider variety of affordable anti-Varroa treatments in the beekeeping community.
Answered on
8 March 2017
There are two medicines authorised for use in the UK containing oxalic acid for treating Varroa in bees.
The decision on whether to develop and market a veterinary medicine is a commercial one for those pharmaceutical companies wishing to invest the necessary capital.
In order to extend or change a licence for a medicine, the pharmaceutical company marketing it must provide sufficient data in support of the change to demonstrate that the product will remain safe and effective.