New Zealand apple exporters will likely be granted relatively unfettered access to Australian markets following the release of a draft report by Biosecurity Australia (BA).
According to a media release from Apple and Pear Australia Ltd (APAL) no additional quarantine measures were recommended by the report for exports of New Zealand apples to Australia, although New Zealand would have to ensure standard commercial practices specified in the review were met before fruit could be exported.
While Pipfruit New Zealand has welcomed the draft Import Risk Analysis (IRA), the report has been slammed by the industry across the Tasman.
The Australian pipfruit industry has stated the draft IRA sets a dangerous precedent for other primary industries in the country.
APAL chairman Darral Ashton said in the media release, the recommendations laid out in the draft IRA effectively ceded control of the country’s border as they accepted New Zealand’s Integrated Fruit Production programme as a quarantine standard.
“This has given control of Australia’s pest and disease management to New Zealand growers even though they have the devastating bacterial disease fire blight – one of the worst fruit tree diseases in the world – along with a number of damaging insect pests.”
Mr Ashton took issue with aspects of the report and questioned what assurances the Australian industry had that the necessary standards would be applied, verified and audited at the orchard and packhouse level in New Zealand.
“Giving off-shore control of our Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP) to those who stand to gain financially sets a disastrous world-wide precedent and all Australia’s primary industries should be greatly concerned at this development,” he said.
Chairman of Australia’s Fire Blight Task Force, John Corboy, said the disease still posed a significant risk to the country’s pipfruit industry.
“Once established, fire blight has never been eradicated from any country,” he said. “If it establishes in Australia, which has more conducive conditions for the disease than New Zealand, we can virtually say goodbye to the A$150m a year pear industry. The cost of apple production will also increase,” he added.
Pipfruit New Zealand CEO Peter Beaven was pleased the report took into account recent findings by the World Trade Organisation that Australia’s previous import regulations were not justified.
In a media release Mr Beaven reiterated the New Zealand industry believed it could work with its Australian counterparts to grow the industry there.
“For several years now we have offered to work cooperatively with Australian growers to promote apple consumption in Australia,” he said. “Their per capita consumption is less that half that of New Zealand and we can offer a complementary variety mix as well.”
Industry players have 60 days to make a submission on the draft report before the director of quarantine makes a final decision on 17 August.
