Australian government undertaking biosecurity risk assessment following the application
India and Indonesia have applied to export de-crowned fresh pineapple to Australia, according to reporting from ABC News.
The federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is currently undertaking a biosecurity risk assessment following the application.
An agriculture department spokesperson told ABC News that as a World Trade Organization member, Australia has an obligation to assess import requests and develop the least restrictive and scientifically justified import conditions.
“While we have free trade agreements with India and Indonesia, all countries must still formally request market access for fresh products as they may present a biosecurity risk,” the spokesperson said.
Pests of concern from Indonesia and India include scale insects, mealy bugs, and thrips.
Industry body Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers told ABC News pests can hide in pineapple crowns and while the imported pineapples from India and Indonesia would have their tops removed, the crown does grow into the core of the pineapple lower than what is cut off.
“It would be an absolute travesty if we go through this and anything is enabled into the country,” said the group’s Angela Williams.
The biosecurity risk assessment is scheduled to be published in the first half of 2025. It will then be open for 60 days of public consultation. If approved, new imports could lead to cheaper pineapples for Australian consumers, but growers are concerned this could affect local industry.
Central Queensland pineapple grower, John Cranny, told ABC News “a lot of countries” had lower costs than Australian growers including for labour, pesticides and fertiliser.
“If [imported pineapples] come in at a competitive price to ours, or a similar price to ours, then the consumer will choose on quality,” he said. “If it comes in at a significantly cheaper price to ours, consumers will choose on price. Hopefully our quality will withstand it and be superior to any imports.”
Australia’s pineapple market relies heavily on its domestic industry with only a small amount of fresh fruit imported or exported.
In the 2021/22 season 72,000 tonnes of pineapple were grown in Australia, valued at A$50.6m with about 66 per cent of Australian pineapples sold fresh, according to DAFF.
By comparison, India produces around 1.8m tonnes of pineapples each year, and Indonesia 2.9m tonnes. In both countries less than 1 per cent of pineapples are exported fresh.
However, gaining access does not always lead to large export volumes. Fresh, de-crowned pineapples are already able to be imported from the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand without any significant trade.
In the last five years, Australia’s only pineapple imports have been about 22 tonnes of fresh de-crowned pineapples from Taiwan.
An import risk analysis for de-crowned pineapples from Malaysia has been completed, however import conditions are yet to be finalised.
