Biosecurity Australia, the Australian Government body in charge of developing biosecurity policy, has proposed that the importation of fresh de-crowned pineapples to Australia from Malaysia be permitted, subject to a range of quarantine conditions. Biosecurity Australia has issued a draft report for a consultation lasting 60 days. The draft report identifies four pests that Biosecurity Australia says require quarantine measures in order to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection. According... ...Read more »

After 10 years of negotiations, U.S. cherries can now be exported to Western Australia, making cherries the first U.S. fresh fruit to gain access to that market. U.S. cherries from California have been common in the eastern states of Australia since the late 1990s as the states of Washington and Oregon have been permitted to export to the eastern Australian states since 2001. Since that time, negotiations have been ongoing between Biosecurity Australia and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to... ...Read more »

The NSW Primary Industries Minister, Katrina Hodgkinson, announced that NSW has made a submission to Biosecurity Australia in an attempt to prevent the importation of New Zealand potatoes, which it says are a disease risk to NSW’s $53 million potato industry. The incoming Liberal Government of NSW and the NSW Department of Primary Industries made a submission on the subject of ‘zebra chip’, a condition causing dark streaks or patches in potatoes. While the condition is mostly cosmetic,... ...Read more »

Chestnut blight, an exotic plant disease affecting chestnut and oak trees, has struck the Ovens Valley in North-Eastern Victoria, where 80% of Australia’s chestnuts are grown. The disease was first detected in September 2010, and the Chestnut blight National Management Group (NMG) met on 25 November 2010 to discuss the outbreak and agree to a national plan to eradicate the disease. The disease is caused by a bark-inhabiting fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica), which mostly affects the trunk and... ...Read more »

Western Australia’s $45million potato industry is poised to regain access to valuable international markets after being cleared of the devastating pest, potato cyst nematode. Following more than two decades of rigorous testing and surveillance, Western Australia has been reinstated as a potato cyst nematode (PCN) free area, WA Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman announced today. “Since the discovery of the nematode on six properties in the Perth metropolitan area between 1986... ...Read more »

The Western Australian state Budget, announced Thursday by Premier and Treasurer Colin Barnett, has a number of provisions for food in WA, including livestock, irrigation, biosecurity and food charities. Agriculture will receive $11.3 million for livestock industry development and innovation, $37 million for biosecurity risk management against pests, diseases, feral animals and native pests such as emus (including $6 million for border biosecurity at airoports, ports and other transport hubs), $30... ...Read more »

Peak horticulture body Growcom welcomed confirmation by the Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke at the Rural Press Club’s Post-Budget breakfast of some progress on national biosecurity reform and of a fresh approach to national drought policy. Growcom Chairman John Bishop said he welcomed the Minister’s commitment to the continuation of reforms to national biosecurity policy and the announcement of an additional $20 million in the budget to enhance biosecurity operations within AQIS. Mr... ...Read more »

Australian truffle production could grow by as much as 10 times its current level by 2013, but market development and further research will be needed to ensure the industry has a long-term future.These are some of the conclusions of a stocktake of the industry to be presented this weekend by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) at a meeting of the Australian Truffle Growers Association in Victoria. The research established that production is likely to grow from 800 kg... ...Read more »

The USA and China have recently applied to export apples and stonefruit into Australia. Biosecurity Australia has now begun their risk assessment into the products to determine whether or not they will allow the two countries to import the products to Australia. Local growers have made clear their concern that allowing the imports will result in new pests and diseases being brought into the country. Furthermore, the impact of new competition on farmers could be substantial in some cases and cost... ...Read more »

Health authorities have confirmed Pitts Poultry is at fault for a recent salmonella outbreak but no conclusions have yet been made with regard to how the eggs were contaminated. The salmonella outbreak last month affected more than 100 people, and was traced to raw egg products used by a caterer. This latest concern means that Pitts Poultry have been linked to an outbreak of salmonella seven times in the last four years. However, Biosecurity Australia believes that the processes now in place at... ...Read more »