A POTENTIAL suspension of trade of Australian fruit to Vietnam has growers worried about the negative implications the move would have on their businesses.
A Department of Agriculture spokesman said the Vietnamese government had raised concerns regarding Australia’s fruit fly management systems and was “considering suspending trade in Australian fruit”.
“We are working with the Vietnamese government to provide additional information about fruit fly management and control in Australia,” he said.
“We value our trade relationship with Vietnam very highly and are committed to providing Vietnam with products that meet their importing country requirements.”
The Department of Agriculture was committed to “ensuring Australian producers had access under cost effective means and would continue to talk with our valued trading partner about ways we can achieve this”.
Orange cherry orchardist, packer and exporter Fiona Hall was alerted to Vietnam’s plans for a potential ban on all Australian fresh fruit in an email from her biggest customer in Hanoi.
The customer was “very shocked” to be informed by Vietnam Farm Protection Department from January 1, imports from Australia would no longer be permitted.
“This is really unreasonable and we could not accept this so therefore could you alert all related agencies and government departments in your country to intervene and counter this issue,” the message said.
Mrs Hall with her husband, Bernard, run the Caernarvon Cherry Company in the Towac district near Orange, which includes a $1.6 million state-of-the-art grading machine.
However, Cherry Growers Association (CGA) chief executive Simon Boughey regarded the issue as “rumours”.
He told CGA members the Department of Agriculture had been investigating reports by exporters they were having difficulties obtaining new import licence applications to Vietnam “and associated rumours that the government of Vietnam had implemented, or was intending to implement import bans upon Australian horticultural products.
“The department has confirmed there are no bans implemented at this time, nor bans on the issuance of import licences at this time.
“However, there are a number of technical market access concerns that will need to be addressed to avoid adverse effects arising from Vietnam’s transition to new import regulations due to come into effect on January 1, 2015.”
Mr Boughey said the department was “working with Vietnam to reassure it of the competency of our national systems to detect and manage fruit fly, which are widely recognised by Australia’s trading partners”.
NSW Farmers’ Nashdale-based spokesperson Peter Darley felt Vietnam’s intention was possibly in retaliation to Australia not allowing fresh imports from that country and
other countries in that area.
“I believe our government should have been well aware that this was going to go on,” he said.
“And fruit growers are the ‘bunny’ again – the growers (are) right at the peak of the season,” he said.
Mrs Hall said the cherry industry was waiting for an official response from the Australian government.
“It’s interesting one of our major customers in Vietnam has told us the situation,” she said.
Australia had been exporting cherries to Vietnam for a “few years”, rising to a potential 250 tonnes this season.
