NZ: No further action taken over PSA antibiotic injections
The manufacturer of KeyStrepto, an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis and the plague, sought permission for the drug to be used against PSA last year. The EPA and the Ministry of Primary Industries authorised its usage, but only in accordance with a strict set of guidelines, including that it could only be used until December 1st 2011.
After that it was not permissible to use it as the vines would come into flower and there were risks that residues of the antibiotic could get into the fruit.
Furthermore, KeyStrepto was only permitted to be used as a spray - and not injected into the vines. A small minority of growers - in sheer desperation - injected their vines with the drug.
Dave Courtney, of Zespri, said a letter had been sent to all growers, asking them to come forward if they had misused the treatment.
"We wanted to encourage people to come forward and inform us where they had not followed the rules.
"The point was made in the letter that those who came forward would likely be viewed differently than those who did not and were then caught out by the 100 percent residue testing programme, but also said that ultimately it would be for MPI to decide what penalties would apply to growers.''
Possible punishments include some severe measures, such as fines of up to $150,000 and 2 years imprisonment.
Mr Courtney said a number of growers came forward following the letter and admitted to using KeyStrepto outside of its authorised use, and have since had their fruit taken out of circulation to be "dropped onto the ground and mulched.'' These growers have been waiting to hear what would happen to them until now.
Source: nzherald.co.nz