Govt Hypocritical Over Law Change

Wednesday 13 Oct 2004

Gerry Eckhoff - Press Releases - Rural - ACT Rural Website

The Labour Government is patently hypocritical over changes to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff said today.

"The changes require every New Zealand farmer to become qualified `approved handlers' to continue using everyday agricultural products - which, I might add, are already being handled with due care and attention," Mr Eckhoff said.

"A recent report, commissioned by farmer organisations, clearly shows the massive imposition of this compliance cost is unnecessary and unwarranted. No deaths have occurred due to accidental chemical poisoning on farms between 1996 and 2001, according to the latest available data.

"Indeed, the major `accidental' poisoning of humans is due to the Government's own spraying programme of Auckland and Hamilton during its painted apple moth eradication programme.

"It's outrageous for rural people to be faced with a $2,000 compliance cost due to Labour's simple-minded attempt to protect everybody from everything. The Government is trying to fix a problem where clearly there is none," Mr Eckhoff said.

ENDS

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