The Ministry for Primary Industries hasn't a single case of a farmer contacting it to say they have traded with a farm whose animals were infected with Mycoplasma bovis.
Officials says the lack of co-operation from farmers is making the job of tracing the spread of the disease much tougher. The government programme to try to eradicate the disease that is predicted to cost taxpayers and farmers up to $886 million.
This report says North Canterbury farmers at an MPI-arranged meeting in Cheviot were outraged at the inability of the agency to identify those with infected properties due to the Privacy Act. Since broadcast, the Privacy Commissioner has replied saying this is actually due to the Biosecurity Act.
For the full story, listen to RNZ Insight on Sunday after 8:00am.
