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Access to the Australian market for Malaysian agricultural produce is high on the agenda, according to Malaysia’s Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed.

He said he current limited access is a result of pest and disease concerns by Australian authorities, reported The Star Online.

“Australia only allows frozen durian in,” he said. Malaysia is seeking access for other products like mangosteen, papaya and dragon fruit.

“It `Australia’s biosecurity agency` has agreed to put pineapple on the A list and would visit our farms in the first half of next year,” he said at a Malaysia-Australia Agriculture Cooperation Working Group meeting last week.

“We hope to export cut fruits in cans,” said Mr Mustapa.