The announcement that the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport would review the draft standard operating procedures designed to manage identified risks to the Australian apple industry from fire blight was good news for Queensland apple growers, according to peak horticulture organisation, Growcom.
Chief Advocate Mark Panitz said that the Queensland apple industry contributed more than $40 million to the local economy and was responsible for hundreds of livelihoods which would be put at risk if measures to prevent fire blight from entering the country via imported apples from New Zealand were not robust.
Mr Panitz expressed strong support for the Senate Committee’s request to review the standard operating procedures before they are put in place by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).
He said that Biosecurity Australia had conceded before a parliamentary industry in May that Australia could import fireblight in the calyx (core) of some apples imported from New Zealand.
“While Biosecurity Australia believes the risk of fireblight spreading and establishing is minimal, the fact is the science admits there is a measurable risk the disease will be imported into the country for the first time,” said Mr Panitz.
“As a result, Australian apple growers are being asked to wear increased financial risk in their business operations and Australia is put at risk of losing its competitive edge on the world market by exposure to this disease.
“Clearly, the onus is on the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) as the first line of defence to provide strong enough procedures to prevent the disease from entering the country.
“The industry has every right to demand that standard operating procedures designed to manage the identified risks be robust.
“Growcom strongly supports the Senate Committee’s plan to conduct a scientific review before they are put in place.”
Mr Panitz said that the Queensland apple industry was particularly at risk from fire blight because of the warm humid spring conditions in the Granite Belt favourable to its establishment.
www.growcom.com.au |
