AU: Pineapple growers keen for senate inquiry into Malaysian imports
The final analysis of the risk to Australia's biosecurity from the Federal Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry will allow foreign fruit into the country, despite saying that 2 per cent of fruit may have latent bacterial pathogens present.
Col Scott, an agronomist at Tropical Pines pineapple farm in Yeppoon, says the industry is ready for a fight.
He says the Australian industry can compete with imported fruit but isn't prepared to accept any level of risk of disease transfer.
"We're waiting to hear back now from Senator Boswell (Nationals Senator Ron Boswell) as to what the terms of reference will be for this Senate inquiry and we are hoping that we will be able to supply information that will help them," he said.
"It's not over yet, not by a long shot."
The Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has declined to comment, pending a final period of consultation.
This consultation concerns the process and is not a scientific debate.
The ABC understands that the period for submissions to change the outcome of the IRA has ended and the Department predicts that this draft will be the last.
Source: www.abc.net.au