Farmers feel they have been kicked in the guts a second time by the Agriculture Ministry the Applicant Group said yesterday.

Bruce Ross announced yesterday that a full review of the decision not to let the virus in as a control tool was not warranted. He said yesterday the decision making process had been the most demanding and thorough ever undertaken by the Ministry. A review would have only been appropriate if the process had been flawed or if the decision maker had acted improperly.

The Applicant Group had simply disagreed with Dr O' Hara's interpretations of the scientific information, whereas his conclusions were consistant with those of expert reviewers.

Federated Farmers calicivirus chairman Bob Brown said he had completely lost faith in the ability of the Ministry to make a commonsense decision and the Applicant Group would seek a Judicial review of the decision as agreed unanimously last Friday if Bruce Ross turned down the review request. To turn down the virus, mean't no new biological controls for other pests, including possums could ever be introduced.