Australian fruit and vegetable exporters are up in arms over proposals to impose a stringent export code which they believe will restrict the country’s considerable overseas business.
The proposals, from The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, recommend 13 changes to the Horticulture Code of Conduct, including extending it to cover exporters.
Maxwell Summers from the Australian Horticultural Exporters' Association told ABC Rural that he fears Australian produce will be legislated out of the export market, on top of current market problems in relation to the recession.
"Australian horticulture export is the dearest export in most global markets, and in some instances we are not 20 per cent dearer, we are twice the price of, say, Chile or South Africa, with similar produce. I think this will probably be the straw that breaks the camel's back," he said.
The mandatory code, which was introduced to provide a fairer trading system between farmers and buyers, is unworkable according to many growers, who say it is too complex and hard to use.
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