1080 Poison Drops Potential Threat to Exports

A bombardment of 1080 poison by the Department of Conservation and Animal Health Board particularly on the West Coast has the potential to endanger exports, says Mary Molloy, spokesperson for Farmers Against 1080 (FATE). In the current six month period (1 March to 30 June), AHB and DoC will complete 32 Pesticide operations on the West Coast, with 24 of them using 1080 pellets, gel or paste or a combination of these. She said other parts of New Zealand were also being subjected to 1080 drops such as Molesworth in Marlborough and Coromandel Peninsula in the North Island.

Mrs Molloy, a dairy-farmer at Harihari on the West Coast said there was a cavalier approach by government with the Ministry of Primary Industries randomly testing less than two farm-produced carcasses for residue.

"This raises the question as to how seriously the ministry treated the potential for poison residues to endanger valuable exports, quite apart from environmental and health concerns," she said. "Also is milk tested for poison residues?"

Mrs Molloy said there was a glaring discrepancy between government attitudes to farm stock as compared to wild animals.

Government saw as essential buffer zones to exclude the taking of wild animals within 2kms for wild pigs and wild deer, 1km for hares, and 200 metres for rabbits. Yet there were no buffer zones for livestock.

"This complacent attitude raises serious questions not only on food safety and safeguarding exports but also on tourism, water supplies and human health safety," she said.

ENDS

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