Controversial spray approved to fight PSA

The controversial antibiotic spray KeyStrepto has been approved for use in kiwifruit orchards from Katikati to Whakatane in the fight again Psa.

Kiwifruit Vine Health has given approval for the staged-release of the spray to growers in the Psa priority zones which cover the whole of Te Puke, parts of Tauranga, Papamoa, and parts of Welcome Bay to Ohauiti Rd and the high risk areas which are the whole Whakatane and Edgecumbe, those areas of Tauranga not in the priority zone and the whole of Katikati.

While the industry is desperate to stop the spread of the virulent form of the bacterial infection which can rapidly kill vines, not everyone, even some growers, are happy about the use of an antibiotic.

All kiwifruit from orchards which use antibiotic sprays will be tested before export, said Zespri spokesman David Courtney.

"Zespri will have a no residues policy on all fruit.

"The EU (European Union) will not accept fruit with any residues of streptomycin on it. Zespri is well aware of this requirement, and the decision to add KeyStrepto to the spray programme was made balancing this fact with the fact the industry is under tremendous pressure from Psa and tests have proven KeyStrepto to most effective product available for protecting plants from Psa," he said.

Last month, some beekeepers had threatened to withhold pollination hives from the industry, concerned the use of the spray may result in antibiotic residues in export honey. The beekeeping industry has since been assured it won't be used when vines are in flower.

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