Australia’s cherry industry is optimistic two new protocols could soon be signed giving growers and exporters access to markets in China and Thailand.
Cherry Growers Australia CEO Simon Boughey told Fruitnet.com negotiations with authorities in both countries were at an advanced stage although agreement over phytosanitary conditions, particularly for the treatment of fruitfly, were yet to be reached.
He was hopeful mutually acceptable terms with China could be established when Australian Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) representatives met with their counterparts from Chinese quarantine agency AQSIQ during bilateral talks in Beijing later this month.
Currently China does not recognise Australia’s East West Protocol, which is accepted by many nations Australia exports to. The protocol recognises Medfly, which is more resistant to cold treatment than Queensland fruit fly, is not present in the east of the country, where almost all cherry exports originate. As such, countries that recognise the East West Protocol do not require exports form the east of the country be treated for Medfly.
Australia is pushing for China to accept cold treatment at 3oC for 14 days, while China is requesting lower temperatures for a longer period, largely owing to what Boughey said were concerns over Medfly being present in exports from the east of the country.
Lower cold treatment temperatures affected the condition of cherries said Boughey pointing out the viability of Australian cherry exports relied on produce reaching markets in peak condition.
The industry was also pushing for both China and Thailand to accept methyl bromide fumigation as a treatment for fruit fly. This would allow produce to be airfreighted without undergoing cold treatment. It would also allow exporters to react quickly to changing market demands.
“We are also looking to send irradiated fruit into Thailand, as they accept some fruits under this option, including cherries,” said Boughey.
Inspectors from Thailand's department of agriculture are scheduled to visit Australia in late November and early December to conduct an audit of export facilities and practices, Boughey added.
Thailand suspended imports of Australian cherries as of 1 January this year while it reworked import and phytosanitary regulations and brought them into line with obligations laid out by the World Trade Organisation.
“The Australian Cherry industry is keen to get back in to Thailand as Thai importers value the quality of the Australian fruit and the counter-seasonal advantage from mid November through to end of February that covers Christmas and Chinese New Year,” said Boughey.
“The same goes for accessing the large and growing Chinese consumer markets in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, who are looking for a high value product.”
