Australian orchardists have spoken out against accepting US apple imports, as Biosecurity Australia carries out an import risk analysis (IRA) on the fruit.
John Corboy, from Apple and Pear Australia, told the ABC allowing US apples into the country could introduce diseases that would devastate the industry.
'We believe that we shouldn't be asked to take risks of getting pests into this country that we don't already have,' he said.
As part of the IRA, Biosecurity Australia has called for comments and submissions on the issue, and the governments of five Australian states have expressed dismay at the plan.
The statements cite the risk of fire blight, European canker and other potential disease threats associated with the importation of US apples.
In its own submission, the USDA refuted these claims.
“While fire blight does occur in the US, including the Pacific Northwest states, there is no scientific evidence that mature, symptomless apples, the commodity to be exported to Australia, have ever been involved in the spread of fire blight disease,” USDA associate executive director for plant health Craig Fedchock told Biosecurity Australia in a letter.
Comments and submissions can be made on the issue until 21 December.
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