Australia: Queensland grower raises alarm over Tahitian lime import proposals
A Tahitian lime grower from Far North Queensland has raised concerns over the Department of Agriculture's draft proposal to allow imports of the fruit from the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Speaking with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), grower Karen Muccignat said pest threats and an oversupplied market could potentially compromise the local industry.
"It's not good to have fruit coming in from a tropical country and we're also tropical, so you're just not sure of what's going to be coming into Australia to affect our crops," Muccignat was quoted as saying.
"Just have a look at the white spot in the prawn industry at the moment. That was allowed into the country and it's buggered that industry and that could happen to us," she told the broadcaster.
The draft report downplays the volume produced and exported by the countries concerned.
"It is difficult to anticipate potential export volumes from the Pacific region, but market forces will ultimately determine whether significant and sustained trade eventuates," it states.
"Most production in the Pacific Islands is still focused on supplying local markets because there are limited market access opportunities for growers.
"A small number of growers in Samoa and Vanuatu currently export Tahitian limes to New Zealand, but trade volumes are small."
In a release published in mid-June, Citrus Australia market access manager David Daniels reiterated the limited expected trade from the islands.
"Australia already has import policy for limes from various origins including New Caledonia, although to the best of our knowledge, no meaningful trade in limes has ever taken place," Daniels said.
"Citrus Australia has been in contact with the department throughout the process and has waited with eager anticipation for the draft report to be released.
"We emphasise that at this point, it is only a draft report and no policy decision has been made."
The Department of Agriculture still needs to receive technical submissions about potential treatments from the countries' plant protection organizations, while stakeholders in Australia have until August 7 to make their submissions to the authority.
Photo: www.shutterstock.com
Subscribe to our newsletter
