Apple and Pear Australia Ltd (APAL) has criticized a recently announced ban of the chemical fenthion in horticulture, saying the one-year phase-out period is not enough time to develop effective alternatives. 

The announcement was made earlier this week by The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), who said the pesticide's use would still be allowed for the post-harvest dipping of tropical and subtropical inedible peel fruits.

APAL head John Dollisson said that fenthion was the last product available to fruit growers to control fruit flies, which remain a major pest of apples, pears, stonefruit, mangoes, other fruit and even vegetables.

"Fruit fly is endemic to mainland Australia and is a management concern for growers, but it is also a concern for consumers, who don't want to find fruit fly maggots in their fresh produce," Dollisson said in a release.

"We were hoping for a 2-year phase-out period to help growers adopt different management strategies, to fast-track research and development to find alternative solutions, and to give crop protection companies more time and incentives to develop safe and effective alternatives.

"We accept the APVMA decision, but it's a pity there wasn't broader government action to ensure there was an alternative product or method to control fruit fly available before fenthion was banned."

He added the industry wanted to continue providing consumers with high quality and safe produce in the future, but this may be impossible for many without additional help once fenthion is no longer an option.

APAL supports the use of a pest management strategy called Area Wide Management that involves monitoring, sanitation, lures, and baits, to manage fruit fly.

"Improved extension programs would support the wider adoption of Area Wide Management to improve its effectiveness," Dollisson said.

"We also need help to control fruit fly in abandoned orchards and urban areas that can be harbours for fruit fly.

"State and Local Government must take responsibility for managing fruit fly in these areas because Area Wide Management is not effective unless all fruit trees are incorporated into a management strategy. Even then, Area Wide Management has its limits to controlling fruit fly."

He went on to say he hoped for more government and private sector support to find new products and strategies to help with fruit fly management and control, and that the presence of fruit fly affected the industry's capacity to export as many international markets didn't accept fruit from pest-ridden areas.

Abc.net.au quoted Summer Fruit Australia chairman Andrew Finlay as saying growers in the coastal regions of New South Wales and Queensland would be more affected than others by the move as there were more backyard fruit trees that could host pests and undermine control measures.

He also reportedly said he would not be surprised if many growers ending up leaving the stonefruit industry, claiming fenthion alternatives were more expensive and, at this stage, not as effective.

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