Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Environment spokesperson
Reports that animal feed additive Ethoxyquin - banned in Europe because of dangers for human health and aquatic life - has been found in Tasmanian salmon are alarming. Even more so, when the Greens asked Minister for Environment, Roger Jaensch about it in Question Time today, he knew nothing.
The Minister must urgently demand a review into the residue levels of Ethoxyquin and its compounds in Tasmanian salmon and feed.
The Australian reports the European Food Safety Authority banned Ethoxyquin in 2017, and reaffirmed that ban in March this year, finding the additive was “likely to cause mutations in the genetic material of animals and humans”.
Tests undertaken by Melbourne’s National Measurement Institute in commercially available salmon found levels of Ethoxyquin and a related compound in Tassal and Petuna salmon. Toxicology experts have concluded these combined levels exceed even Australia’s inadequate Ethoxyquin maximum feed limits.
Conservationists and consumers alike have reasonable questions about Tasmania’s inadequate standards governing feed additives, which don’t require residue reporting and are clearly far below world’s best practice.
Minister Jaensch is responsible for protecting Tasmania’s aquatic food chain and the organisms living in marine sediment below salmon cages from possible mutagen-forming chemicals. It’s beyond belief he knew nothing about this matter.
To reassure Tasmanians, Minister Jaensch needs to conduct a review of the levels of Ethoxyquin and its related compounds in Tasmanian salmon feed, and make the information publicly available.