Beekeeping Guides

PER94609: What the Api-Bioxal Permit Means for Australian Beekeepers

A plain-English guide to PER94609, the Api-Bioxal products it covers, why the permit conditions matter, and what to check before treating a hive.

7 min read

By Bee Brothers • August 14, 2026

Api-Bioxal powder and solution products covered by APVMA permit PER94609

What you'll learn

Short answer: PER94609 is the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority emergency use permit for specific Api-Bioxal products used to control Varroa mites in honeybee hives. It is not a blanket approval for any product containing oxalic acid. Before treating, search the current APVMA permit record, confirm that your state or territory and proposed method are covered, and follow the permit and attached product directions exactly.

As at 14 August 2026, current Australian industry guidance records PER94609 as continuing to 30 September 2028 in NSW, the ACT, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. Permits can be varied, extended or replaced, so treat that as a dated check, not a permanent promise.

Why the permit number matters

Api-Bioxal was introduced under an emergency use permit rather than a standard Australian product registration. A permit creates a legal pathway for the specified products, users, locations and methods. It also sets conditions covering monitoring, application, protective equipment, records, withholding periods and reporting.

The practical rule is simple: the permit conditions take priority if they differ from an overseas label, video or supplier description. The APVMA permits database is the authoritative place to check the current record. Search for PER94609 immediately before use rather than relying on an old download.

What PER94609 covers

PER94609 is product-specific. It covers Api-Bioxal Solution and Api-Bioxal Powder for the control of Varroa destructor in European honeybee colonies within the designated jurisdictions.

Api-Bioxal Solution is the ready-to-use liquid product for drizzle or trickling application.
Api-Bioxal Powder can be prepared for trickling as directed or used for vaporisation when the current permit allows it.
Generic oxalic acid cleaner is not one of the named veterinary products and is not made legal for hive treatment by this permit.

InstantVap Australia stocks the named products in the Api-Bioxal collection. Product availability does not replace your responsibility to confirm the current permit, label and safety data sheet.

Api-Bioxal Powder

Mentioned in this article

Api-Bioxal Powder

$32.00

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Conditions to check before treatment

The current National Varroa Mite Management Program guidance summarises the permit conditions and links back to PER94609. The main checks are:

Monitor first and treat only when monitoring indicates treatment is required.
Confirm the permit is current in your jurisdiction and covers the product and method you intend to use.
Do not mix or use Api-Bioxal simultaneously with other veterinary products, including miticides.
Use the clothing, gloves, eye protection and respiratory protection specified for the method.
Keep the treatment records required by the permit and report adverse experiences as directed.

Capped brood is an important limitation. Oxalic acid does not penetrate wax cappings, so mites inside capped brood are protected and treatment efficacy can fall when brood is present. The permit should sit inside a broader monitoring and integrated pest management plan, not replace one.

For the equipment, timing and capped-brood context, read our separate guide to using an oxalic acid vaporiser for beekeeping in Australia.

How to check the current permit

Permit documents and conditions can change. Do not rely on a saved PDF, screenshot or undated supplier page as your only authority. Search the APVMA permits database and confirm the current record before treatment.

Use this order every time:

Open the APVMA product and permit search.
Search for PER94609.
Confirm the current status, jurisdictions and conditions.
Read the permit and the product label supplied with your pack.
Check your state or territory guidance and keep the required records.

Frequently asked questions

Is PER94609 the same as product registration?

No. PER94609 is an emergency use permit. It authorises specified supply and use under its conditions. That is different from assuming every oxalic-acid product is registered for Varroa treatment.

Does PER94609 cover generic oxalic acid powder?

No. The permit names Api-Bioxal products. Generic oxalic acid sold as a cleaner or rust remover is not interchangeable with a permitted veterinary product.

Can I follow an overseas Api-Bioxal label?

Use the Australian permit and the relevant attached or supplied directions. Where an overseas label conflicts with the permit, the permit conditions take priority.

How do I know whether PER94609 is still current?

Search the APVMA permits database by permit number immediately before treatment. Do not rely on a screenshot, cached PDF or undated supplier page.

Where can I find suitable protective equipment?

See our respirators and protective equipment range, then confirm that the selected equipment meets the current permit, product label and safety data sheet requirements for your method.

Next step: check PER94609 in the APVMA permits database, then view the Api-Bioxal products available from InstantVap Australia.

Information checked 14 August 2026. This article is general information, not personalised treatment or legal advice. Permit status and conditions can change.