Contamination already, insects and leaf with New Zealand fresh apple imports, consignments rejected
August 30, 2011
Contamination already, insects and leaf with New Zealand fresh apple imports, consignments rejected
According to Sharman Stone, Member for Murray, “it’s our worst nightmare. Within days of the first shipments of fresh New Zealand apples coming to Australia, we have consignments rejected because of their contamination.
“You would have thought the New Zealanders packers would have been extra careful, at least with the first apple arrivals, but insects and leaf material have been found in boxes with the apples. Leaf matter in particular can carry the incurable apple and pear tree killer, Fire Blight and the insects can carry fire blight, or are a pest in themselves. These findings suggest there just is not enough effort going into the packing in New Zealand, or perhaps, the truth is that you just cannot guarantee that the fresh apple imports will ever be free of contamination.
“The high risk of fresh apple consignments carrying the bacteria or other pest insects and canker into Australia has led to Australia banning fresh apple imports for over fifty years. Unfortunately the Labor Government recently bent to the WTO dictates and not only let the fruit from the diseased orchards in, it has virtually no special measures controlling where the fruit comes from in New Zealand, and how it is treated in packing and storage before it is sent off to the supermarkets of Australia.
“South Australia is one of our premier apple growing regions. Their government has immediately responded to the rejection of NZ apple shipments by banning all foreign apples and pears from coming near their own orchard areas. This includes the Adelaide Hills, Riverland and South East South Australia.
“Clearly Victoria and Tasmania need to swiftly impose similar protective measures with bans on imported fresh apples from countries with these pome bacterial and canker fruit diseases and pest insects. I call on the Victorian government to immediately impose these bans, before fruit destined for the South Australian markets is diverted to Victoria, and we have even more risk to contend with.“ Dr Sharman Stone said.
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