Colin Chartres, the head of the International Water Management Institute, has called for an increase in the number of safety checks on fruit and vegetables imported into Australia.
According to an ABC report, research by the organisation has found that farmers in 53 developing countries have used untreated sewage and urban wastewater during production.
Mr Chartres, director general of the group, aired concerns that not all exporting countries are thoroughly testing their produce.
'We know that many systems overseas are not full-proof, and it's probably important from time to time to check this,' he said. We've just seen in China, in the case of infant formula, a major problem with contamination. There are unscrupulous people around in all societies and sometimes they will not follow regulations and guidelines.'
