Annual event held online, allowing more members to attend
Australian Horticulture Trade (AHT) held the first part of its annual members’ forum on 22 October, where presenters from Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry provided updates on key issues affecting the fresh produce trade.
This year, the peak industry body for Australian horticultural exporters and importers held its members’ forum online to enable more members to participate and 40 attendees heard from four speakers.
Tom Jensen, GM - freight policy & operations at FTA, kicked off the presentations by revealing the staggering amount importers and exports are currently paying for land-side charges – approximately A$1bn per annum is being charged for terminal access charges and empty container fees.
Douglas Kerruish, director, horticulture plant imports programme at DAFF, followed with an overview of import operations and noted that imports of fresh fruit, vegetables and cut flowers increased in 2023/24.
His team has worked hard to ensure importers and trading partners are kept up to date with information to help them manage biosecurity risk and meet Australia’s import conditions.
Kerruish highlighted that work plans are a valuable tool when managing trade and working with our trading partners. They set out pre-export operational procedures and import conditions in a clear and simple manner, giving trading partners confidence in meeting Australia’s import requirements.
Sally Ormiston, market coordination and strategy program at DAFF, provided an update on Australia’s technical market access. Recent significant market access wins included new access for blueberries to Vietnam, which was finalised on 9 October, with trade expected to commence in December.
As part of the department’s “two and two” arrangement with Vietnam to fast-track market access outcomes, market access for Vietnamese pomelos to Australia was also finalised.
The department also finalised new market access to China for mainland apples, approved in July 2025, with trade expected to commence as new fruit comes online in the 2026 season. Ormiston highlighted the technical complexity of market access negotiations, and the importance of industry working closely with the department in support of commercially viable trade outcomes.
Holly Buckle, assistant secretary cargo operations South (Victoria/Tasmania) and detector dogs at DAFF, was the final speaker of the day, rounding off a comprehensive update of shipping, exporting, and importing information. Buckle advised that there was a staggering 25 per cent increase in import volumes last financial year, equating to 154.8mn imported consignments.
A notable rise in the low volume, low value, self-assessed clearance imports added to this increase and contributed to a challenging year for imports and her department.
Buckle said the Biosecurity Operations Division (BOD) recognises that there continues to be challenges for the horticulture industry and acknowledges the industry’s commitment to upholding biosecurity and it appreciates dialogue with AHT and its members.
The department is continuously looking at ways to improve the biosecurity system, to minimise unnecessary regulatory burdens while effectively managing biosecurity risks and obtaining great efficiencies.
AHT’s second online forum will be held on 26 November. Wayne Prowse will present his annual import/export statistics and Steritech will provide updates on irradiation.
