Science Media Centre

New regulations under the Resource Management Act will bring the control of 1080 under national, rather than regional, control. Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith announced the changes on Sunday, following consultation last year. He said the new approach would standardise the rules for using poisons like 1080, “rather than the current system of different rules […]

A criminal threat to contaminate infant formula powder with the pesticide 1080 has been made public by authorities, who remain adamant that New Zealand milk is safe. The threat was made public at a press conference yesterday where police and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) outlined an extortion attempt aiming to stop the use […]

AusSMC: Following reports linking scombroid fish poisoning to the deaths of Queenslanders Noelene Bischoff, 54, and her 14-year-old daughter Yvana in Bali, the following information has been collected from experts by the Australian Science Media Centre. The Food Safety Information Council has provided the following information about scombroid (histamine) fish poisoning: “Histamine poisoning has similar symptoms to Ciguatera […]

‘Next generation’ tools for the control of pests in New Zealand were unveiled yesterday at the opening of the The Centre for Wildlife Management and Conservation. The Centre was officially opened yesterday by Dr Nick Smith, Minister for the Environment, bringing together researchers from universities, Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) and private companie. New pest control […]

Groups who want 1080 banned in New Zealand are preparing for nationwide protests this Sunday. 1080, or sodium fluoroacetate, is a pesticide used to kill pests such as possums and rats. Using 1080 to control invasive predators helps protect native bird species from extinction and reduces tuberculosis spreading across livestock. Aerial drops scatter carrot and […]