Inclusion of Stable Fly breeding in Quality Assurance Certification

Stable (biting) flies (stomoxys calcitrans) are an introduced species of blood sucking flies that are a major pest of cattle, horses and sheep particularly on the Swan Coastal plain in Western Australia. Their painful bites also cause untold misery for humans, dogs and native animals.

In recognition of the severity of their impacts, and in an effort to reduce their numbers, stable flies have recently been declared a pest in Western Australia under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act (BAMA) 2007.

This summer has been one of the worst stable (biting) fly infestations in Western Australia - causing pain, grief, trauma and anxiety to residents who are also forced to watch the endless distress of their animals.

A major breeding site of stable flies is decaying vegetable matter such as that, for example, associated with the disposal of unharvested or unmarketable vegetable crops and some fruit production.

If government, industry, consumers and producers work together we can reduce the breeding opportunities for these flies and thus lessen their horrific impacts.

We’re asking Coles and Woolworths as major buyers of vegetable produce to join with us in this fight to control the breeding of stable flies by including stable fly control into their quality assurance programs. Such an action would help ensure vegetable producers managed their waste in such a way as to not breed stable flies.

Please join with us in asking Coles and Woolworths to step up and support all of their suppliers and consumers.

For further information about stable flies and their impacts please visit:
www.stableflyactiongroup.org.au

Please do not sign this petition more than one time.