Kiwifruit growers officially cautioned over streptomycin use

New Zealand kiwifruit growers using streptomycin incorrectly have been issued a warning by the NZ Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). The MPI’s investigation into the misuse of the antibiotic resulted in 26 growers admitting to incorrectly using streptomycin.

According to MPI Director Compliance Dean Baigent, MPI approved streptomycin for use on kiwifruit under strict conditions to avoid chemical residues occurring in the fruit. A maximum of three spray treatments onto leaves prior to vine flowering is permitted.

The MPI investigation aimed to identify all cases of misuse so that all fruit potentially affected could be isolated and kept from sale, Baigent said. “In this we were successful and both domestic and international markets were able to be assured that no fruit with streptomycin residues was in the supply chain.”

Kiwifruit marketing body Zespri worked alongside the MPI to coordinate a declaration process, which allowed growers to come forward if they thought they had breached conditions.

“There was a 100% response from growers and those concerned have cooperated fully throughout the investigation,” Baigent said. “The growers concerned voluntarily disclosed their wrongdoing and those who misused product on a larger scale sustained the largest losses through the disposal of their affected crop.”

Misusing streptomycin constitutes a technical breach of the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act 1997. The MPI says any further breaches of the Act will result in prosecution.