Labour MP Trevor Mallard is claiming farming interests are being put at risk by tuberculosis research.

Mr Mallard is up in arms over work carried out by Landcare Research, which has involved the release of Bovine TB infected possums in the area around the Rimutaka Forest Park.

He said it's a move that could affect farmers and he wants every possum in the area destroyed as quickly as possible.

"Because having Bovine TB is something which is very serious, I mean it's very serious for the farmers, the health effects of it for humans can be serious as well."

But the Primary Industries Minister is dismissing the concerns raised by Trevor Mallard.

Nathan Guy said the study was a small one and only 12 possums, with a unique strain of TB, were released.

"It's very important research in the area that's already rife with TB in possums. This areas has had TB in possums since the 1980s, so they've done this study to understand how far these possums move. Mr Mallard is completely out of touch."