‘We’d have to rip out orchards’ - report sparks biosecurity fears over US imports

WA apple growers are calling for “vigorous safeguards” to be put in place if US apple imports are given the green light, over fears foreign pests could enter the State and wipe out orchards, costing the industry millions. A draft risk analysis report for the importation of apples from the Pacific Northwest States of the US released by the Federal Department of Agriculture last month revealed 24 pests — some of which there is no registered control for in Australia — posed risks. It has sparked fear among growers and industry bodies over the “devastation” that could occur if they were inadequately managed. “Having our biosecurity clean underpins our industry,” Pomewest executive manager Nardia Stacy said. “We need to make sure we don’t bring anything in from other countries that will potentially devastate our orchards. Nannup grower and Pomewest chair Mark Scott’s biggest concern was the bacterial disease fire blight, which he said could be transferred on tiny pieces of leaf “trash” as small as 0.1mm. “We all understand as growers there’s a need for world trade to occur, but it’s about what protocols they put in place,” he said. “(Fire blight) has the potential to wipe out orchards in a 12-month period and there’s no registered control for that in Australia. If the imports got the go-ahead, he said they would like to see protocols as strict as those placed on apple imports from New Zealand, which were given the go-head in 2007 after being banned since 1921 when the pest became established there. With 120 growers between the Perth Hills, Donnybrook-Kirup and Manjimup-Pemberton areas, Mrs Stacy said local growers were more than capable of supplying the market. “There’s really no need to import apples, we have a plentiful supply here,” she said. “I don’t know why a consumer would want a US apple when they can support local growers. Mr Scott said they would like to see any imported fruit stickered with its country of origin so consumers could make an informed choice.” Apple and Pear Australia Limited chief executive Phil Turnbull said they were going through the report with a “fine tooth comb” and would pen a report to the Federal Government. “Our view is very much that there are obvious biosecurity risks and the Federal Government would need to impose vigorous safeguards,” he said. He said there had “never been a more important time” to keep the country’s food production safe from foreign pests and called on the industry to make submissions on the report, which is open for consultation until January 21.