Australian and Californian citrus industries discuss collaboration
“Our two industries are striving to obtain more workable quarantine arrangements for major export markets in Asia, such as Korea, Thailand and China,” said Mr Cranney. “There would be mutual advantage in us combining forces to research pests of concern such as Fuller’s rose weevil and California red scale. Researchers in each country are looking independently for solutions to these problems and we could potentially halve the time needed if we collaborated our efforts.”
With chemical residue standards becoming stricter and more complex in all of Australia’s citrus export markets, Mr Cranney was also able to offer his experience in this field. As representative of the International Society of Citriculture on the Codex committee which oversees international residue harmonisation, he has been instrumental in pushing through access to several new agrichemicals.
“The Codex process is becoming clogged not only by a multitude of new chemical applications, but also by old chemistry being reviewed. This is hindering the ability for smart new safe chemistry to enter the commercial arena,” he said. “The USA and other countries are pushing for the process to be streamlined. Support from Australian representatives can only help to make better pest and disease control products available sooner for your growers.”
Mr Cranney also alerted the Australian citrus export industry to new upcoming food safety regulations in the USA which could impact on our export program to that market.
“Exporters to the USA such as Australia need to be aware that the regulations coming into place this year will not only apply to our farmers and packers, they will also equally affect all imported produce,” he said. “The regulations are close to finalisation, and will be implemented over the next 12 to 24 months.”
During his tour of Sunraysia and the Riverland, Mr Cranney was able to meet with leading exporters Mildura Fruit Company, Costa Exchange and Riversun.
Citrus Australia’s general manager market development Andrew Harty commented: “This has been a very fruitful visit and we appreciate the California Citrus Quality Council’s offer to work together with us on key issues affecting the prosperity of our citrus industry. We will certainly begin exploring options with Jim Cranney for collaborative research between Australian and Californian experts. California has a technically advanced industry and markets its crop counter-seasonally to ours so do not pose a competitive threat. It thus makes a lot of good sense for us to work together.”
For more information:
John Black
Communications Manager
Citrus Australia
Tel: +61 (03) 5023 6333 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +61 (03) 5023 6333 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Email: john.back@citrusaustralia.com.au
www.citrusaustralia.com.au