Pesticide Residues

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29878, 19 July 1962, Page 3

Pesticide Residues

Sir,—The former DirectorGeneral of Agriculture reports: "Agricultural produce can be very vulnerable to the residue requirements of importing countries, and this risk of contaminated produce calls for immediate action to keep residues in export produce within the limits acceptable to our overseas customers.” Converting this jargon into plain English: "Other countries will not take our foodstuffs if they' are impregnated with D.D.T., and other poisons, so our export produce must be be kept free of them.” Now the Director-General of Health has an opportunity to point out that “agricultural produce can be very vulnerable to the residue requirements of New Zealanders’ health and well-being,” etc. — Yours, etc.,

July 12, 1962. NUMANA.

i IThe director of the Division of Public Health iDr. D. iP. Kennedy) said: "The Department of Health has given j a great deal of attention in * recent years to the possibility that foodstuffs may i contain traces of pesticides i and other agricultural I chemicals. Limits in parts per million have been established, as shown in recent amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations, 1946, and i the analysis cf samples of I various foods sold for con- ! sumption in New Zealand 'shows compliance with the | limits. Apart from direct in- ■ vestigations under the Food and Drugs legislation the Department of Health maintains close Liaison with the Department of Agriculture and is represented on the Agricultural Chemicals Board and Stock Remedies Board. Some very severe restrictions have been applied in the use of some chemicals where there has been the possibility of a trace appear1 ing in a foodstuff.”]

Sir, —If “agricultural produce can be very vulnerable to the residue requirements of importing countries,” and this calls for “immediate action in keeping residues in export produce within the limits acceptable by oversees customers,” as stated in the annual report of the Direc-tor-General of Agriculture, why are conditions for the home market not mentioned as of equal importance in ; avoiding risks? Overseas i research is based on findings of residues in human fat and body tissue. Do we permit, in our produce sold in New Zealand, a higher concentration of these dangerous materials than is allowed in any of the countries to which we export?—Yours, etc., GOOSE AND GANDER. July 11 1962. [T,e Director-General of Agriculture (Mr D. N. R. Webb) said: “Equivalent precautions are taken in respect of all produce released for ■sale on the New Zealand (market.”]