HortNews
	South Island MP Wants Cook Strait Biosecurity Control

INVERCARGILL 8/3/2001 - South Island councils should be looking at stopping or slowing the spread of agricultural pests and diseases from the North Island, MP Eric Roy says.

The Southland-based MP, who is National's biosecurity spokesman, said it was not possible to have a separate South Island border control but there should at least be a code of practice. This could be funded by general rates and user-pays charges.

Mr Roy said he would call a meeting of primary production representatives to discuss his proposal.

Pests such as the cattle tick, varroa bee mite and clover weevil were of great concern and action was needed to ensure the pests did not become established in the South Island.

There had already been reports of cattle ticks being spread to Southland by northern dairy cows. Educating transport operators and farmers moving stock and feed between the islands was important. Proper cleaning of trucks and regulations that cattle must be dipped before leaving the North Island would be a good start, Mr Roy said. Environment Southland biosecurity manager Richard Bowman said the concept was good but there had to be a co-ordinated effort from all the sectors who would benefit.

It was difficult to get funding because the Government tended not to recognise internal biosecurity issues, Mr Bowman said. State border controls were sometimes used in Australia to prevent the spread of pests such as fruitfly.

There would have to be enforcement powers to make the proposal work, or there would be no comeback if pests were brought in accidentally or through negligence.