Malaysian pineapples may be on their way

The Australian Government body responsible for developing biosecurity policy for the country, Biosecurity Australia, has issued a draft report proposing that, subject to specific quarantine conditions, decrowned pineapples be permitted to be imported in Australia.

The report is now open for consultation for 60 days, with comments and submissions to be made at http://www.daff.gov.au/

There are four pests that have been identified in the Report, that must be managed and prevented, including mealybugs.

A combination of measures are required by the report, including; pre-shipment or on-arrival methyl bromide fumigation or an alternative post harvest treatment as approved by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

The phytosanitary status of the fruit must also be controlled and the report suggests an operational system for it’s maintenance and verification.

Comments and submissions must be to DAFF by 19 December 2011.

After the recent permission to import apples from New Zealand, this report is likely to receive a lot of submissions.