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US citrus growers gain more ground
17 Jul 2003
Biosecurity Australia is set to allow citrus fruit from Florida into Australia under strict quarantine conditions. The draft decision, which was more than two years in development, was unveiled last week. It allows for 60 days of public comment before a final decision is made.
The decision was based on a risk analysis which found there were 20 pests or diseases which could be imported with Florida citrus fruit. The main concerns relate to citrus canker, Caribbean fruit fly, postbloom fruit drop and citrus scab. The key transmitters are mealybugs, scale insects, leafrollers, thrips, leafhoppers, sharpshooters, psyllids, aphids and mites.
Australian Citrus Growers executive director Judith Damiani said the industry is particularly concerned about postbloom fruit drop or citrus canker coming into Australia.
Under the proposed arrangements, all the fruit will have to come from registered orchards and through registered packing houses. It will also have to undergo pre-export treatment and inspection. It will be inspected on arrival in Australia via a sampling method. Any detection of disease or pathogen would result in destruction of an import lot and immediate suspension of trade and area freedom status.
Weekly Times, 16/7/03, page 7.
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