Powdered cyanide strictly regulated and hard to get

By PAULA OLIVER

Cyanide poison is widespread in New Zealand, but its powder form is harder to find.

Pest controllers use a green paste or capsule form of cyanide to kill possums.

The powder or granule form, which was involved in the security threat revealed on Tuesday, is used by the jewellery industry and in electroplating. The largest user is the mining industry.

The cyanide arrives from Germany, Britain or Australia in sealed 50kg steel drums or in small bricks.

The law requires it to be kept under lock and key in storage, and sold only by licensed dealers.

People seeking licences from the Ministry of Health are investigated before one is granted.

There are 30 licensed dealers in the country, and each one must keep a poisons book that records every sale, who it was to, and how much was sold.

The mining industry use cyanide to help to extract gold from hard rock.

Len Jubber of GRD Macraes Ltd yesterday said his company used six to 10 tonnes of cyanide powder a week. It arrived in a brick and was dissolved into a liquid.

"It would certainly be very hard to get hold of. It's very tightly regulated."

Suppliers the Herald spoke to agreed that the powder was hard to find.

"It just isn't something you can get your hands on easily. We have to keep a poisons book to record who bought it, how much and when," one supplier said.

The jewellery industry uses cyanide powder or granules in a chemical process to clean the surface of gold items, or in gold-plating.

A member of the industry said regulations were tightly enforced and they limited how much he could buy - meaning he could not obtain more than his equipment required.

Cyanide is also used by electroplaters for galvanising objects against corrosion.

An example would be a galvanised screw with a bright gold finish. A plating solution containing dissolved cyanide is used to coat items.

To use cyanide for pest control, a licence is needed from the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Group. Users must undergo training and testing that cost $500.

The Department of Conservation is a user, but independent possum trappers can also gain a licence.