Control Of Use Of Insecticides

Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 12

Control Of Use Of Insecticides

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, May 18. Proposals for the stricter control of the use of chemicals and insecticides in agriculture were made final when the Agricultural Chemicals Board met today. The proposals, which lay down principles to be followed in the framing of regulations, will be placed before the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Hayman) next week.

It is understood that they advise the enforcement of a number of recommendations which have been sent to farmers by the Department of Agriculture, but which have been ignored by some farmers. One of these relates to the use of pasture by stock after the pasture has been sprayed with D.D.T.

It is likely that as the result of the Agricultural Chemical Board’s report it will be made illegal to turn stock into a paddock which has been sprayed with D.D.T. until some time has elapsed, or until rain has fallen. Officers of the department emphasise that there is no possibility that .the use of DDT. will be banned. The most that will be done, they say, will be to enforce the prudent use of this and other chemicals. The actual regulations will not be framed until after Mr Hayman has had discussions with veterinary authorities and departmental officers. The Director of Agriculture (Mr P. W. Smallfield) said today the decisions of the board had no direct connexion with the investigation now going on in the United States concerning traces of chemicals found in a shipment of beef from New Zealand. The board was formed last year to survey the position and to draft recommendations concerning the use and handling of chemicals for agricultural purposes. It has worked on this project for more than six months.

“What is being done is part of a general scheme to tighten up the use and handling of chemicals,” said Mr Smallfield. “You may be sure that it has not been brought on because of any investigation which may be going on at the time. It is unfortunate that such a suggestion has been made. "As for the meat export matter, all I can say is that it is unwise to speculate before the results of an investigation are known.”