The glyphosate debate rages on.
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Advocacy group Save the Bees Australia has slammed MidCoast Council for proceeding with the bitou bush aerial spraying program.
Concerned for the health and safety of residents, flora and fauna, the organisation called for a stop in the program in hope of a review of the process.
In an open letter, which has since been posted on Facebook, the group said the council has a 'duty of care' to investigate the position of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) based on new research into the use of glyphosate.
"We urge you to invoke the precautionary principle, and show your duty of care for your constituents.
"We believe that the MidCoast Council position and declaration that this program is not using the same products of concern that have been at the centre of the recent high-profile litigation against chemical manufacturer Monsanto are false and seek to deceive the public over the facts that Weedmaster Duo contains glyphosate as the active (regulated) ingredient used in this aerial spraying program," the letter said.
It is a targeted operation with aerial spraying only used in more difficult and inaccessible locations such as cliff faces and coastal dunes not able to be accessed by vehicle or easily by ground teams.
- MidCoast Council
In a statement to Manning River Times, the council said the chemical under the microscope is not used in their program.
"The legal findings in the USA relate to an ingredient in the original form of glyphosate, called polyethoxylated tallow amines. MidCoast Council does not use this form of glyphosate, it uses glyphosate biactive.
"When applying the glyphosate product, MidCoast Council closely follows the NSW government's (Office of Environment and Heritage) best practice guidelines to ensure public and employee safety and minimise environmental harm.
"All chemicals are used in accordance with the label and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority permit requirements and the areas treated are closed to the public and/or inaccessible to the public.
"The use of pesticides in NSW is regulated by the national regulator for agricultural chemicals, the APVMA.
"This authority has recently reaffirmed their position on the use of products containing glyphosate and continues to track and consider any new scientific information associated with the safety and effectiveness of glyphosate," the council said.
The advocacy group also claimed council carried out 'blanket aerial spraying' on the coast in close proximity to towns.
Disputing the comment, council said this method was far from the case.
"It is a targeted operation with aerial spraying only used in more difficult and inaccessible locations such as cliff faces and coastal dunes not able to be accessed by vehicle or easily by ground teams.
"Other management techniques such as bush regeneration are used in areas which are easily accessed.
We urge you to invoke the precautionary principle, and show your duty of care for your constituents.
- Save the Bees Australia
"Council has recently strategically treated a total of 160 hectares of bitou bush using aerial application along the 38 kilometre northern coastline of the Mid Coast local government area," the statement said.
The inquiry into glyphosate circles around claims it can cause cancer in humans.
Save the Bees Australia insisted the council's position on the matter conflicts with the International Agency for Research on Cancer's stance on the use of glyphosate.
"If the council proceeds to continue aerial spraying of glyphosate after being informed of the serious nature of these issues, the council will be failing in its duty of care for its constituents and hence become liable for any litigation," the group stated.
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