Australia's grape industry is edging closer to reaching an agreement with Philippine authorities for market access in the South East Asian nation, media agency the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.

Australian Table Grape Association (ATGA) CEO Jeff Scott told the ABC a new protocol was in the works to allow cold treament in-transit for mitigating fruit fly threats.

"It means it's another market, it's a market we haven't been able to ship to in the past because the protocol was prohibitive and commercially unworkable, so we now have another market we can export our grapes to," Scott was quoted as saying.

The story reported a trial shipment was sent last month, after biosecurity inspectors came to Victoria's north west to look at exporting conditions.

Scott told the broadcaster the new protocol, if approved, would open up opportunities for exporters of other fruits too, such as citrus and stonefruit.

www.freshfruitportal.com