Australian authorities anticipate a risk analysis on Vietnamese dragonfruit imports will be completed by the end of 2016.
A draft report assessing Vietnam’s market access bid has recommended dragonfruit from all commercial production areas of the South East Asian nation be allowed to enter Australia.
The report was prepared by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources following an extensive scientific review and inspection of dragonfruit production areas in Vietnam by Australian government officials. The recommendation is subject to a range of biosecurity conditions.
Stakeholders within Australia’s fresh produce industry can respond to the proposals outlined in the draft report until mid-November, after which time comments will be considered and a final report will be prepared.
During a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last week, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasised the high priority of this market access request.
