23 May 2000

No new varroa finds as the next phase begins

Despite 25 teams being out in the field, no new Infected Places have been found in the last day. The Infected Places cumulative total is 273 - after following 2,198 traces, with no high-risk traces to follow at this stage.

Technical experts from MAF National Centre for Disease Investigation, AgriQuality Ltd, Hort Research and the private sector have been drawn together to analyse the technical and logistical issues associated with strategies for control or management of varroa, and to develop operational plans to support those strategies. The National Beekeepers' Association is contributing to this work.

Next week an expert group set up to look at the feasibility of control options will be reconvened to review, question, and validate the work of the technical group on control options, and planning issues related to those options.

A briefing paper for Cabinet is being prepared this week, and MAF expects to submit a substantial Cabinet Paper detailing control options by early next month. MAF is planning to have whatever control option is chosen in place and operational before the next pollination season.

The movement permit free-phone operation (0800 109 383) received 16 new requests for permits, with seven being issued, one declined, and the rest still pending.