Chemical Labelling Too Vague
Stronger legislation needs to be put in place to ensure sheep chemical labels provide more accurate information about their efficacy.
According to WAMMCO Chief Executive Office Des Griffiths, it should be made mandatory for chemical companies to provide export Slaughter Interval (ESI) on their container labels.
He said sheep treated with chemicals for problems such as worms and lice - and even sheep grazing pastures sprayed with chemicals - are required to be withheld for a certain amount of time before export and human consumption, depending on the chemical.
He said that there were often significant differences between Australia's required holding periods and those of the importing countries, which was why ESI's were so important.
Not following another countries ESI requirements could cause them to reject Australian sheep, so ESI information should be on all chemical labels.
Mr Griffiths said WAMMCO was receiving an increasing number of National Vendor Declarations forms that did not meet the specified ESI.
"Producers need to be aware of the ESI requirments and, from an industry point of view, we need legislatory backup."
The current system works on a voluntary basis, with ESI and withholding period information placed on a website run by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).
Producers can access the website at ww.apvma.gov.au
The argumanet from chemical companies is that ESI information may not apply to every customer using their chemical and may be outdated, leaving them open to liabilities.
APVMA chemical and residue program manager Trevor Doust said it was important that chemical users were getting the correct information. He said the system was of paramount importance given that chemical companies did not provide the information on their labels.
Another of WA’s legendary buyers of livestock, WAMMCO’s Wayne Radford retires
Wayne Radford, will retire at the end of 2022 after a 56 year career in the industry. Wayne left John Curtin High School at Fremantle to join the skins team at Wesfarmers ...
Read moreRECORD WAMMCO BONUS OFFSETS TOUGH YEAR
Media Release 28/07/2022 Western Australia’s largest sheep and lamb processing cooperative will return a record $8.4 million in pool bonuses to its producer members at the end of August 2022. The 2021/22 ...
Read moreWAMMCO PIONEER DIES
Media Release 14/07/22 Des Griffiths, an early CEO of the WA Meat Marketing Cooperative, credited with helping WA lamb producers to reshape an influential global lamb processing and marketing cooperative, passed ...
Read moreNEW LIVESTOCK MANAGER FOR WAMMCO
Media Release (20-06-2022) Recently appointed Livestock Manager for WAMMCO, Mike Curnick is looking forward to capping his 37-year career in WA’s livestock sector in the lamb and ...
Read moreWAMMCO LEADER RETIRES
A distinguished career in the meat processing and livestock industry will end with the retirement of the WA Meat Marketing Cooperative’s Livestock Manager Peter Krupa on June 30. Mr ...
Read more
