Compliance update

The ACVM Group is taking an active role on a number of compliance issues. Increasing time is being spent on this area as we move towards the ACVM Act. A number of compliance matters have been addressed or are currently under investigation. The major issues are summarised for information as follows.

LINDANE – UNREGISTERED PESTICIDE

In February 2000, Van Zanten Ltd pleaded guilty and was convicted under the Pesticides Act for the illegal importation of lindane. The company was fined $750, with costs of $1077.50, following investigation by MAF Enforcement Unit (EU). A parallel investigation by Otago Regional Council (ORC) into breaches of the Resource Management Act (RMA) from use of lindane did not proceed. Local farmers are taking a civil case against the company for land contamination. The ACVM Group is working with the ORC and affected farmers.

DDT – UNREGISTERED PESTICIDE

In Hawkes Bay, a deer farmer reported that the sale of a neighbouring property failed due to high DDT residues in the soil. His concern was the potential for residues in deer on his land. Also in Hawkes Bay, we were advised of the sale of a commercial property with 3.5 tonnes of bagged DDT/lime mixture used for treating uncured sheep skins. A further 2 tonnes has been found in premises of two orchards in the area. The regional council is arranging disposal. MAF is investigating the possibility of applying legal sanctions on the use of unregistered pesticides.

UNLICENSED ORAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT

An unlicensed oral nutritional supplement containing magnesium, which was being widely marketed, was reported to the ACVM Group. As a result of communications with the distributor, this matter was resolved by withdrawal of all promotion for the product, a change of New Zealand licensee, and the approval of a low risk registration application.

SELENIUM

AHX Selenium, manufactured by Grochem Ltd and distributed by Mark Bell Booth Ltd, was licensed as an over the counter (OTC) product. It has since been recognised that the selenium concentration of the product makes it PAR I class. Grochem Ltd has reformulated the product as an OTC product with a selenium level of 2.5 mg/ml and received approval for a new licence. Remaining stocks under the old licence are being distributed with PAR I over-labelling and require a veterinary prescription for purchase and use.

ILLEGAL CYANIDE BAIT LAYING

The laying of cyanide baits with no warning notices on walking tracks around the Te Kopahou Reserve/Red Rocks/Sinclair Head area was notified to Hutt Valley Health, who carried out a preliminary investigation. A suspect who is not on the VPC operators register has been identified. All information has been passed to MAF Enforcement Unit for further investigation.

UNSUPERVISED ACCESS TO PAR I ANIMAL REMEDIES

A newspaper article, provided by the New Zealand Veterinary Association, indicating that a non-veterinarian horse dentist may have unsupervised access to local anaesthetic has been investigated. The person named in the article states that he is able to obtain anaesthetic only on veterinary prescription and that it is never used unless a veterinarian is present.

SALE OF ANIMAL REMEDIES AS COMPONENT MATERIALS

The ACVM Group has received complaints that an oral nutritional mineral supplement ‘animal remedy’, in component form with instructions for mixing and administration, is being sold in competition with a licensed product. This may constitute avoidance of the Animal Remedies Act and a legal opinion has been requested. The facts surrounding the sale of the ingredients are being investigated by the MAF Enforcement Unit.

AERIAL APPLICATION OF UNREGISTERED PESTICIDE

It has been reported that a diflubenzuron ectoparasiticide, Fleececare, is being used for the aerial spraying of pastures for control of porina in the Wairarapa. This use is being investigated by the regional council as a breach of the RMA, as unauthorised discharges to the air. MAF is collaborating with the investigation to determine whether sale of the animal remedy as a pesticide can be established as a breach of section 21 of the Pesticides Act.

OFF-LABEL USE OF HORMONAL GROWTH PROMOTANT

The ACVM Group has been advised that some prescribing and use off-label of a hormonal growth promotant (nandrolone) in ostriches and emus that are produced for food has been taking place. The product is licensed for use in non-food animals only. The sale or supply of these products (which are prescription animal remedies) in contravention of the label conditions constitutes a breach of the Animal Remedies Act. MAF regards the supply of hormonal growth promotants in this way as illegal and extremely serious; it also has the potential to disrupt the development of the trade in primary produce with Europe. Any instances of off-label use of hormonal growth promotants in food animals will be investigated with the intention of taking prosecutions.

VARROA MITE CONTROL PROGRAMME

There are issues surrounding the importation of unregistered pesticides that are intended for assessment for feral bee control in the South Island. MAF Biosecurity Group has contracted HortResearch to conduct evaluations of products (and possibly compounds) that may be used in the future to eliminate isolated populations of varroa infested bees, and thereby maintain the South Island’s varroa-free status. The ACVM Group is keeping a watching brief to facilitate appropriate and legal importations.

APPROVAL OF WOOL MARKERS

Wool markers are approved by the Director-General, MAF, under section 63(B) of the Animal Remedies Act. Changes in the way some wool markers are being applied on farm have resulted in a cessation of scourability testing by NCRAL, and a backlog of wool markers waiting for approval. ACVM Group is working with NCRAL and WoolsNZ to resolve the testing procedure issues and to restart routine testing. Future approvals by the Director-General will be conditional on the use on-farm being performed as tested.