Wednesday, 25 October 2006

1080 reassessment needs time

United Future MP Gordon Copeland has expressed satisfaction that the Environmental Risk Management Authority's reassessment of 1080 poison will finally get underway in November.

But he's called for an extension to the length of the submission process to give the New Zealand public a greater chance to have their say on the controversial and potentially dangerous poison.

"United Future has over a long period of time lobbied the Government to comprehensively reassess the effects of 1080 and the way it is used in New Zealand, particularly through aerial application," said Mr Copeland.

"While I am very pleased that the reassessment is going ahead I am concerned that the public submission period is too short for many people to get a fair opportunity to have their say."

According to ERMA public notification occurs on 2 November and submissions close 30 working days later on 14 December 2006.

"I would like to see the submission period extended through the Christmas holiday season so that people who are usually busy leading up until Christmas will have adequate time and opportunity to put together a worthwhile submission.

"It is my understanding that the Director-General of ERMA has the ability to extend the length of the submission process past its present 30 working day timeframe.

"I believe that the intense public interest surrounding 1080 use in New Zealand more than justifies the extension of the submission process.

"We only want to do this once, so we might as well do it right.

"I hope that all interested parties will be given enough time to make a worthwhile contribution through their submissions so that we can gather all the necessary information to make an educated and scientific assessment of 1080's environmental, ecological and health effects," concluded Mr Copeland.

ENDS

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