19 May 2000
TOO SOON TO RULE MITE ERADICATION OUT
The National Beekeepers' Association is strongly disagreeing with National's Biosecurity spokesman David Carter's call
that eradication of the Varroa mite should be ruled out.
"Mr Carter's comments are premature to say the least, and unless he has a lot more information than the officials
working day by day on the problem, his comments are misinformed," said NBA President Terry Gavin.
"Until the spread of the mite is accurately defined, it is simply impossible for anyone to rule out eradication."
"Economically, eradication makes far better sense than trying to manage the mite and learning to live with an endemic
pest."
The NBA and Federated Farmers has called for eradication of the mite if at all possible. "The beekeeping industry is
strongly opposed to any backtracking on eradication."
"Eradication is the best option for both the beekeeping industry, and the much larger horticultural and pastoral
industries. The ongoing cost of managing the mite will be huge, and far more than any figures for the cost of
eradication that I have heard so far," concluded Mr Gavin.
ENDS Terry Gavin 09-433-1893 Lin McKenzie 025-357-970