The Australian Horticultural Exporters Association (AHEA) has succeeded in having around A$780,000 in Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) fees reimbursed to fruit and vegetable exporters.
In 2009 the AHEA challenged the Australian government's attempts to remove a 40 per cent subsidy on AQIS fees and succeeded by having the move blocked in parliament.
A reform package was negotiated, with the subsidy continuing until June 2011.
The AHEA then pushed for the AQIS charges already incurred between 1 July and 15 September 2009 be refunded to exporters, and the Australian minister for agriculture fisheries and forestry Tony Burke has approved this reimbursement.
The rebates will be processed over the next two to three weeks, with all money to be refunded to by 30 June.
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