29 November 2012
Federated Farmers flags biosecurity issue
Federated Farmers is requesting that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) ask hard questions of its Australian
certifiers, after a consignment of imported cotton seed meal certified as crushed, was found by MPI inspectors in Bluff
to contain whole seeds.
“Can I stress this was not a biosecurity breach,” says Dr William Rolleston, Federated Farmers vice-president and the
Federation’s biosecurity spokesperson.
“It was caught at the border and I wish to thank the vigilance of the MPI and the Federated Farmers member who brought
this to our attention.
“The import health standard requires oilseed meal imported as animal feed to be crushed before shipment. This is to
ensure it contains no viable seeds. It must also be certified by the National Plant Protection Agency of the exporting
country too.
“Biosecurity protection occurs at many levels and in this case, an important step has failed. It is concerning that it
seems to be the Australian authorities who have let us down.
“Cottonseed meal is the by-product of genetically modified cotton. Under current law, the importation of viable
genetically modified seed is not permitted and zero tolerance is applied.
“While these regulations remain, all seed which could contain genetically modified seed must be crushed or otherwise to
render it non-viable. I have seen no evidence this cotton seed is a known threat to our environment.
“Of greater concern is the possibility that viable exotic weed species could hitchhike across the Tasman within this
consignment.
“We are thankful MPI inspectors did pick up the discrepancy between the paperwork and the shipment. That this shipment
was observed by one of our members highlights how important biosecurity is to farmers.
“According to the MPI, the consignment is being held in a MPI-approved transitional facility.
“Federated Farmers is concerned that whole-seeds that should never have reached our border, did. New Zealand biosecurity
requirements are fairly clear and we have asked the MPI to raise this as a matter of urgency with their Australian
counterparts.
“Failure pre-border is concerning and MPI needs to ensure that we can all have confidence in each and every level of
biosecurity protection,” Dr Rolleston concluded.
ENDS