Australia has been granted greater access to the Philippines for a number of fruit products, including citrus, table grapes, cherries, apples, pears and kiwifruit.

The agreement sign Wednesday at the Australia Philippines Agricultural Forum will allow for greater flexibility of exports and permit cold-treatment to control pests, explained Australian agriculture minister Joel Fitzgibbon.

"Table grapes and citrus have already been exported to the Philippines under this new agreement, with other industries able to use the improved access conditions when their fruit comes into season," Fitzgibbon said in a publication by www.weeklytimesnow.com.au.

"The new arrangements facilitate an increase in fruit exports from Australia through improvements and added flexibility in the export process, as well as reductions in the costs associated with exporting."

Australia is the first country allowed to use cold treatment on produce while in transit to the Philippines, the Australian publication reported.

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