Australia to import apples from the United States

The Australian Department of Agriculture has announced that it has completed the analysis of the risks associated with the importation of fresh apples from the United States. Strict biosecurity procedures are defined and the apples must come from the Northwest region (states of Washington, Idaho and Oregon) which represents 65% of apple production and exports in the United States.

 

Australian apple growers are worried. The area these American apples come from has more than a dozen pests and diseases, including fire blight, that don't exist in Australian orchards. On the other hand, these American shipments will benefit from the export improvement program which grants a subsidy and therefore leads, on the destination market, to a price that is clearly lower than the local production costs.

 

Australian Department of Agriculture to publish details of import conditions, including biosecurity conditions.