Pineapple growers raise biosecurity concerns as Asian imports considered

• Australian pineapple growers are warning that a proposed plan to allow fresh pineapple imports from Malaysia could expose the industry to new pests and diseases.
• Growers say Australia’s strict biosecurity protections have helped keep the domestic industry free from serious pineapple diseases, and they fear imported fruit could threaten crops and livelihoods.
• The government and biosecurity authorities are assessing the proposal and potential safeguards, with industry calling for strong quarantine requirements before any imports are approved.

Australian pineapple growers fear a proposal to allow imports of the fruit from India and Indonesia could expose them to foreign pests and diseases.

The federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has released a draft assessment report on the risks of importing decrowned pineapples after both countries requested market access under existing trade obligations.

The report found the fruit could be safely imported if strict biosecurity requirements were met to manage eight identified pests, most of which are species of mealy bugs.

But farmers believe imports are an unnecessary risk, as local fruit is meeting domestic demand.

While the assessment does not automatically mean trade will occur, farmers want risk management procedures to be closely scrutinised.

Second-generation grower Colin Hawken is worried the trade could open his farm at Mungar, south-west of Maryborough, to new threats.

“There are certain pests and diseases in India and Indonesia that we don’t have here,” he said.

“If we do get those diseases here, we’ve got nothing to fight them with.”

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Original article and photo by "ABC News"