Australian growers prepare apples plan

Australian orchardists are working on their response to the latest plan to allow New Zealand apples into Australia.

Biosecurity Australia late last year announced a draft framework for trans-Tasman imports, in a move that has been strongly opposed by growers, who are concerned about the disease fireblight.

Apple and Pear Australia lobby chairman Daryl Ashton said the new document was different to previous draft risk assessments.

He told ABC Radio: "It's taken the emphasis off fireblight a little but there's a lot more concentration on seven other insect pests, so that's a whole new ball game compared to the previous IRA [import risk analysis] where there wasn't as much attention on those particular pests and disease.

"We're sort of busy working away at it to try and assess that the protocols being put forward by Biosecurity Australia do meet the requirements of the industry."

New Zealand growers have complained that the proposed protocols for fruit to be allowed into Australia are too strict.

Australia had ignored a WTO decision from earlier this year, which concluded that chlorine dipping and orchard inspections were not needed or justified, they said.

Pipfruit New Zealand chairman Ian Palmer said the proposed rules for New Zealand apples showed flaws in the Biosecurity Australia risk assessment process.

"The whole process has been rorted," he said.

- NZPA