Tasmanian fruit exporters regain Taiwan access after fruit fly-free status is recognised

Tasmanian fruit can again be exported to Taiwan after the Asian state recognised the state’s fruit fly-free status.

A fruit fly trap in a Spreyton orchard. Picture: GRANT WELLS

TASMANIAN fruit can again be exported to Taiwan after the Asian state on Friday recognised the state’s fruit fly-free status.

Fruitgrowers Tasmania president Nic Hansen said the move was particularly well-timed for apple growers, who finished their harvest this week.

He was hopeful Indonesia would also shortly begin accepting Tasmanian fruit after its representatives visited the state earlier this month for a biosecurity inspection.

Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Richard Colbeck said the decision affirmed Tasmania’s reputation as an exporter of high-quality, safe product.

Taiwan represents a $5.6 million market for Tasmanian fruit exports and has been closed to growers in the affected zones in the north of the state since January 2018.

The reinstatement comes as the deadline nears for submissions to an independent review of the state’s response to last year’s Queensland fruit fly outbreak.

FRUIT READY TO ROLL AFTER ALL-CLEAR ON FLY

RENEWED ALERT AFTER FRESH FRUIT FLY FIND

FRUIT FLY LARVAE STOPPED AT THE BORDER

Mr Hansen said he was preparing a personal submission in addition to Fruitgrowers Tasmania’s own contribution to the review, and encouraged others to do the same.

“It just has to be a couple of dot points, it doesn’t have to be a long-winded War and Peace effort,” he said.

The review is being led by former Tasmanian auditor-general Mike Blake, who also reviewed the response to the flooding that affected the state in 2016.

Mr Hansen welcomed the Government’s decision to bolster biosecurity funding in this week’s State Budget.

Japan, South Korea and New Zealand are among the countries to have already recognised Tasmania’s fruit fly-free status.

Senator Colbeck said: “The Australian Government has been working closely with the Tasmanian Government and our trading partners to ensure that all technical data is available to make assessments on Tasmania’s fruit fly-free status.

“Our trading partners take their biosecurity as seriously as we do and they make their own assessments based on their own data requirements and timetables.

“This is another demonstration of the strong work that has been done to ensure that Tasmania regains its fruit fly-free status and is a pleasing result for our exporters.”