ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS DEMAND INTRODUCTION OF FERTILISER REGULATIONS

Wednesday, 15 May 2002 10:00

The EPA has been urged to enact its powers to regulate the use of industrial waste on NSW crops by the Environmental Defender's Office and Total Environment Centre.

"The public have clearly been outraged by this practice and yet the regulatory agencies response has been non-existent. Lawyers from the Environmental Defenders Office have advised the EPA has a clear statutory responsibility to act," said Ben Cole, Chemicals campaigner for Total Environment Centre.

"The NSW Environment Protection Authority and NSW Agriculture must recognise that the community are demanding an urgent regulatory response, not the development of a long-term research project," continued Mr. Cole.

In a letter sent to the NSW EPA the Environmental Defender's Office have asked the NSW EPA to;

Utilise, if necessary, its direction powers over government agencies (S12) to require action.
Introduce interim regulatory guidelines to protect the NSW environment from any further contamination from unregulated fertilisers.

Ensure NSW Agriculture has adequate proof that current standards are safe.

"The potential trade and environmental consequences of adding heavy metals throughout NSW agricultural lands are unknown. The regulatory agencies must act immediately to remove any risk of long-term damage occurring to agricultural land and the surrounding ecosystems."