The fight to extend the permit to allow farmers access to a stronger mouse bait has been taken to Parliament with Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey speaking in the House on behalf of farmers.
“The switch no-till farming in the last twenty years has greatly improved productivity and the environment, but it has also improved both food and habitat for mice to the point where in paddock mouse control has become an annual activity,” Mr Ramsey said.
“I worked with the Australian Pesticide & Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to get Zinc Phosphide (ZhP) registered for mouse control more than a decade ago and at the time that was a great breakthrough.
“However, over time growers came to realise the approved ZnP25 formulation was at times a sub-lethal rate.
“Consequently, the GRDC, responding to grower concerns engaged the CSIRO to evaluate a stronger mix and to date they have invested $7.5m in these trials.
“Subsequently, the CSIRO backed a double strength formulation, ZnP50 and a temporary emergency permit was granted in 2021 during the last plague.
“Grains Producers Australia were given the responsibility for its roll-out, it has been a huge improvement and there has been no reported off-target damage. Since that time the permit has been re-approved annually.
“It came as a shock to GPA when a similar ‘minor use’ permit for exactly the same purpose was refused and the expiration of the previous licence on December 31 has left farmers in a very precarious position.
“The GRDC and the CSIRO were surprised as to why the application was refused but nevertheless provided a quantity of extra information for GPA to lodge another.
“Despite the extra information GPA has been informed it will also be refused unless they can provide even more specific information in a very short time.
“It is very difficult to understand why that would be or if the APVMA understand the implications of their decision.”
Mr Ramsey said mice have the potential to breed up rapidly and destroy crops.
“Their breeding cycle is just 20 days. They can have as many ten pups each litter and farmers need to have the right tools near at hand to move quickly to stop a handful of mice becoming an avalanche over a couple of months in the lead-up to seeding,” he said.
“While the lower-dose ZnP25 has an ongoing permit, most manufacturers are not willing to produce it, knowing it is not what farmers want and fearing that if the ZnP50 is approved they will be left with unmarketable product and that leaves farmers in the lurch.”
Mr Ramsey said in his speech to Parliament there were rumours that at least one manufacturer has significant stocks of the ZnP25 formulation on hand and has been lobbying against the higher rate approval, but declined to name the manufacturer.
“I am asking Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt to take a direct interest in this situation, clear the air and establish why it is that registration is being refused, given the CSIRO, our premier national science organisation, believe using ZnP50 for in paddock mouse control is a fit and proper purpose.”
Media Contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 08 8633 1744
March 28 2024
