Vietnam has stopped issuing import permits to Australian fresh produce exporters, prompting fears the upcoming seasons for key Australian imports, such as table grapes and cherries, could be derailed.
The move comes as the South East Asian nation reviews its quarantine protocols surrounding Mediterrean Fruit Fly (Medfly), with Australian Government agencies locked in negotiations to resolve the matter.
“While discussion are taking place import permits won’t be issued,” confirmed Australian Horticultural Exporters Association’s (AHEA) executive director, Michelle Christoe. “It’s having a big impact on exporters, who are unlikely to seek alternate markets this season.”
She added that there was no indicated timeframe for a conclusion to the discussions, with Vietnam likely to use the standstill as leverage to secure Australian market access for a number of its own horticultural exports, including irradiated lychees.
“Imports and exports go hand-in-hand, and while these matters can be complicated at times, we hope the Australian Government moves as quickly as possible to bring a swift resolution to the matter,” Christoe told Asiafruit.
The virtual lockout, which began on 1 January when current import permits expired, is a significant blow for Australia’s table grape industry, accounting for around 80 per cent of Australian horticultural exports to Vietnam.
Peter Ingham of leading exporter Lee McKeand Produce said the timing couldn’t be worse for the industry, with table grape shipments out of the key Sunraysia production hub getting away in earnest this week. “It’s disappointing to see because it has been such a strong market for us in recent seasons, particularly for black seedless varieties,” Ingham explained.
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