OIA 19-E-0198 /docCM 5906739
18 April 2019
Ms Stephanie McKee
[FYI request #9954 email]
Dear Ms McKee
Thank you for your Official Information Act request to the Department of
Conservation, dated 29 March 2019. You requested the following:
What types of cereals or blends of cereals are used in prefeed and in poison
baits used by the Department of Conservation?
What is the country of origin of these cereals?
Please describe the routine testing control regime to determine the quality of
cereal used in prefeed and/or in poison baits?
Which authority is responsible for any tests or quality control of cereal used
in pre-feed and/or 1080 or brodifacoum poison baits?
How does the Department of Conservation ensure that the grains in the toxic
baits they use do not contain spores or other biosecurity risks?
What peer reviewed research or other information does the Department rely
on for the scientific assessment of toxic bait cereals and their potential
contamination with fungal spores, including aflatoxins and
phytophthora?
Please give results of any cereal testing programmes carried out over the
last 3 years, the methodology used and the organisation carrying out the
tests.
The department has answered these questions in a previous OIA response,
‘Biosecurity risk from using cereal 1080 in baits’, which you will find on our website
at
www.doc.govt.nz/news/oia-responses/
Because the information requested is already publicly available, your request is
refused under section 18 (d) of the Official Information Act 1982.
We further advise that the Department of Conservation:
• does not manufacture baits
• information about bait ingredients is proprietary to the manufacturer
Conservation House -
Whare Kaupapa Atawhai
PO Box 10 420, Wellington 6143
Telephone (04) 471 0726, Fax (04) 381 3057
• any cereals used must meet Ministry for Primary Industries regulations
• regulatory authorities do not consider there to be any biosecurity concerns
from the application of cereal baits.
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review of my decision by writing to an
Ombudsman as provided by section 28(3) of the Official Information Act.
Yours sincerely,
Amber Bill
Director Threats, Biodiversity
for Director-General