Highly toxic pesticide store costs farmer a fine of £1,200

Published on 08/09/2012 02:26

A FARMER has been fined £1,200 for possessing a banned lethal poison.

Police searching Tom McKellar’s farm in June 2009 found three containers of the pesticide carbofuran.

Just one millilitre of poison, which can be administered in solid or liquid form, can kill a human and one grain is enough to kill a bird.

McKellar, 50, from Bridge of Orchy, Argyll told officers he put carbofuran on meat for foxes to eat. He pled guilty to possessing the substance at Oban Sheriff Court in April.

Since 1988, poisoning with carbofuran has killed around 240 animals in Scotland, including birds of prey and dogs.

Craig Harris, head of the wildlife crime unit at the Crown Office, said: “Carbofuran is an extremely toxic pesticide. Even the tiniest amounts can be fatal to our wildlife. Possession of carbofuran is illegal and those who unlawfully retain stocks can expect to be brought before the court. This conviction should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks about keeping this substance.”

Carbofuran was used in agricultural products to control pests in crops, but was withdrawn in 2001 and is now illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Ian Thomson, RSPB Scotland’s head of investigations, said: “The illegal killing of protected birds remains a persistent problem in some parts of Scotland.”