Proposals for reform of potato cyst nematode law

Press, 1 July 1983, Page 16

Proposals for reform of potato cyst nematode law

The Dominion Agriculture section of Federated Farmers is to be asked to debate a proposal to rewrite the Plant Health Regulations arising out of the continued controversy over potato cyst nematode.

The chairman of the Dominion Agriculture Section, Mr N. Q. Wright, said this week he would take a list of recommendations for reform of the regulations to next week’s annual conference of the section in Wellington. This list has been drawn up by the Malvern County potato farmers who lost a challenge in the High Court last year over scheduling of their properties in 1975 because of potato cyst nematode.

They are Mr Murray Baxter, his son Mr Stuart Baxter, and Mr Peter Stafford.

The farmers say that a rewrite of the Plant Health Regulations as they apply to P.C.N. is necessary to:

0 Provide adequate safeguards for the farmer. 9 Restore the confidence of growers in the M.A.F. findings. ® Put the P.C.N. pest in its proper perspective. Mr Wright said the questions raised by the High Court case have left farmers in doubt. “I believe that the matter

has to be taken up because of its effect on the standing of the M.A.F. in the eyes of farmers.

“Also because the M.A.F. is claiming its High Court costs from the farmers while evidence is now available from overseas which casts more doubt on the original P.C.N. findings in Malvern County and the subsequent actions of the M.A.F.,” he said. “The time is right for a review of the P.C.N. regulations.” Mr Baxter and Mr Stafford, in presenting the proposals for reform to Mr Wright, said that they had taken account of comments and suggestions from the “grass roots” of potato growers. They maintained that the following procedure should be mandatory before any scheduling of potatogrowing land. 1. When suspected P.C.N. is found, the M.A.F. officers to inform the farmer and produce the sample before leaving the property.

2. Mark the exact location of the find, if by forktesting, or grid mark references if by soil testing.

3. Identification to be made by two or more qualified nematologists. 4. On a positive finding, an immediate resampling to establish density of the infestation.

5. Specimens to be made for a grower’s independent authority to authenticate.

6. On new finds in new locations, or on small cyst counts, positive identification of P.C.N. and its species to be made by dissection and examination of larvae under an electron microscope by experts.

7. Evidence to be retained by way of slide specimens for future analysis. 8. Quarantine restrictions to be applied on smaller parcels of land, (e.g. on seed potato certification paddock numbers, and not by title, or on smaller areas with defined boundaries) with the object of minimising the effect on the farmer’s livelihood. 9. Monitor levels of decline annually to improve knowledge of the pest. 10. Make provision for compensation in relation to the seriousness of the effect on the individual farmer.