8 JULY 2015

Black Widow Spiders the Final Black Mark for Biosecurity

New Zealand First wants the Auditor-General to conduct an investigation into the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) with poisonous black widow spiders discovered in table grapes.

“Enough of this honesty box biosecurity,” says New Zealand First’s Primary Industries Spokesperson Richard Prosser.

“Last week, we revealed in Parliament that imported Bulgarian maze was riven with noxious weed seeds and now Mexican table grapes are found to be harbouring black widow spiders. What will be next?

“I cannot believe imported high risk fruit and vegetables is based solely on a visual inspection. Then again, when MPI does see unwanted weed seeds they look the other way.

“Given MPI also clears swamp kauri for export based mostly on paperwork, we need to get serious about incursions and enforcement. From the varroa bee mite to black widow spiders, enough is enough.

“New Zealand First will be writing to the Auditor-General to ask for an investigation into the performance of MPI as both a regulator and enforcer. Every incursion that isn’t foot and mouth brings the incursion that is foot and mouth, one incursion closer,” says Mr Prosser.

ENDS

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