Illegal use of antibiotics by some kiwifruit growers has cost the industry $1.5 million in a testing regime to reassure overseas markets.

Neil Trebilco, president of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc, says fruit from every orchard has been tested for anti biotic residues this season, which wouldn't have happened if some growers hadn't injected their vines illegally.

The industry routinely tests fruit for a wide range of residues, but would not have carried out such an extensive programme if concerns hadn't been raised by growers injecting the product KeyStrepto in a desperate attempt to save vines infected with Psa-V.

The resulting costs have angered many growers, but the actions that could be taken against them – if any – lies in the hands of the Ministry of Primary Industries, not NZKGI, Neil says.

None of the fruit from those orchards has been exported or sold in New Zealand. It has been picked and mulched.

Zespri communication manager David Courtney says to date that all onshore testing and offshore streptomycin (antibiotic) residue testing has cleared fruit for sale.

'It is important this is put in context that over 99.5 per cent of the export crop has been cleared for export.

'Our selling season continues as normal. Some clarification, from markets, has been sought about what has happened and the situation has been explained and assurances have been given around Zespri's zero antibiotic residue policy.”

Before harvest, all growers must fill in declarations which outline products used on their orchards and also indicate if they are unsure if their fruit could be affected by spray drift from a nearby orchard.

Neil says for that reason about 60 Kpins (individual orchards numbers) owned by less than 50 growers are under investigation by the Ministry of Primary Industries.

'Many growers own more than one orchard or Kpin and my understanding of the number of growers who injected their vines in the hope of saving them is well below 50. Some of the orchards under investigation are those whose owners are unsure if their fruit was affected by spray drift, not because they had injected vines.”
Neil has questioned tv images of a syringe in a pit of canes about to be buried, saying in the cases where KeyStrepto was injected, it was into trunks, not canes.

The use of syringes to administer approved products to plants is not uncommon and the method is used to introduce the fungus Trichoderma to fight the disease phytophthora in avocado trees.

Some of the MPI approved research and development into methods of controlling Psa-V currently underway use syringes to inject products into vines.

David says Zespri's absolute priority has been to ensure that no fruit with streptomycin residues is exported from New Zealand.

'Every step Zespri has taken with regards to the limited use of streptomycin in the industry in 2011 was geared to achieve this goal, including the declaration process and the 100 per cent residue testing programme and our in-market residue testing programme.

'These actions are those of a responsible food producer and are in line with Zespri's long-standing commitment to, and reputation for, providing a premium quality product.”

While the growers who injected their vinjes admitted their actions, David says if a grower did not disclose unauthorised use, and a residue test came back as positive, Zespri would be required to advise MPI, reject the Kpin from Zespri inventory and recover all costs from the grower. 'This will include full recall costs if fruit is already in Zespri's inventory. Growers would also face possible significant penalties under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997.”

What will happen to the injected plants is unclear.

'Growers are responsible for actions on their orchards. Zespri is the industry's marketer and cannot compel anyone to remove their vines. Having said that, the likely reality is the majority of the vines will be cut out due to growers making the decision to cut illegally treated vines out, Psa infection and transition across to Gold3.

'Zespri will be closely monitoring illegally treated vines next season to establish if there is any risk of residue from illegal treatments in 2011/12, although this risk is likely to be very low.”

Barry O'Neil chief executive of Kiwifruit Vine Health says he hopes the actions of a few growers won't affect the industry's ability to use KeyStrepto, (as a spray, not an injection) in the coming season.

‘KeyStrepo has been a good tool but was only approved for use in Te Puke. It could be that areas outside Te Puke may want to use it.” Currently KeyStrepto is not approved for use this season.

David says that last year the rules governing the use of KeyStrepto took into account the need to mitigate any potential risk to bees or bee products.

'As part of this extensive research was conducted into the possibility of residues in honey including a residue testing programme. All of this research and testing showed there was no residue issue.”