Environmental Protection Authority

Importers, laboratories and other workplaces holding 1080 are being advised by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on how to comply with the extra controls introduced by the Government last week.

Tighter controls on the high purity forms of sodium fluoroacetate (1080) have been introduced in response to the criminal threat to use 1080 to contaminate infant and other formula. The new controls apply to all workplaces and all laboratories, including those operating under the Hazardous Substances Exempt Laboratories Regulations.

The New Zealand Herald

The poison 1080 is "now the most tightly regulated toxic substance in New Zealand", Environment Minister Nick Smith says, following the emergency introduction of tighter rules following a threat against baby milk formula was revealed this week.

Previously there was an exemption for use of 1080 and other toxic substances like cyanide and arsenic in research laboratories, but the loop-hole was closed on Tuesday night after the Government sought approval from the Governor-General to sign off the new regulations.

Hawkes Bay Today

Possum eradication using 1080 in Hawke's Bay is unlikely to be suspended because of anonymous threats to load infant formula with the poison if authorities don't stop the practice which has been in use for half-a-century.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Fenton Wilson, a northern Hawke's Bay farmer, says controlled 1080 use has been determined safe and effective, and its use should continue, unless something better is found.

In a bid to combat wild dogs in Australia, the organics industry there is considering allowing 1080 to be used as bait on certified properties.

While 1080 is derived from plants, it is produced synthetically and not approved for organic livestock farmers to use.

But Australia's Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre is calling for that to change.