NZBIG Welcomes Maintenance of Varroa Movement Control Line - in the meantime
Today's advice from MAF that the Controlled Area Notice notifying the Varroa movement control line is still in place
even though the government's transitional varroa management programme may have ended yesterday, is very reassuring says
New Zealand Bee Industry Group Chair Milton Jackson.
"We are encouraged that the Minister has made it clear that he is prepared to keep inter-island movement restrictions in
place while the Varroa Programme Group works on the Varroa Pest Management Strategy proposal," said Mr Jackson.
"Abandoning movement restrictions would be opening the flood gates. The South Island would be infected with varroa in no
time at all.
"It is heartening to hear that MAF will be consulting the bee industry this week to discuss options for the North
Island. NZBIG believes that abandoning the Movement Control Line runs the risk that people's minds will drift from the
importance of controlling the spread of the Varroa Bee Mite.
"The implications of varroa reaching the South Island are catastrophic for both the Beekeeping and Pastoral Agricultural
Industries. We cannot afford to be complacent about New Zealand's domestic biosecurity."