The invention comprises 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoropyridine -4-carboxylic acid and the preparation thereof by oxidizing 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-propenylpyridine with nitric acid. The 4-carboxylic acid can be decarboxylated by heating to 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoropyridine. The s-benzylthiouronium derivative of the acid is obtained by reacting the acid with s-benzylthiouronium chloride.