The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) has reviewed import data for Italian kiwifruit over a five year period from 2011 to 2016. This review identified that 47 percent of consignments were detected with quarantine pests over this period.
DAWR said that it has given this information to the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies (MiPAAF) with expectation that this non-compliance will be investigated and corrective actions implemented to reduce pest non-compliance. DAWR intends to monitor pest non-compliance during the 2017-18 season and if a significant reduction in pest noncompliance is not achieved, DAWR tells that it will consider additional measures.
Pest interceptions on Italian kiwifruit consignments from 26 October 2017 to 17 November 2017:
- Total Consignments: 13
- Consignments requiring fumigation: 7 (54%)
- Consignments reconditioned for excessive trash: 1 (8%)
DAWR may seek to impose a pre-shipment treatment (e.g. fumigation) on this import pathway should pest non-compliance not be significantly improved. This would likely affect the 2018-19 season.
For more information:
Dominic Jenkin, CEO
Australian Horticultural Exporters' and Importers' Association
Tel: + 61 423 394 476