Bugs and red tape conspire to block some perishable exports
- Friday, 09 February 2007
WESTERN Australian’s strawberry and vegetable growers are facing an uncertain export season because of a tiny insect called ‘springtail’ and government inaction.
Springtail, otherwise known as Collembola, is on the banned list of the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS), which will stop shipments bound for the United Arab Emirates if the pest is detected on export products.
A Phytosanitary Certificate is required by the UAE for all shipments of fruit and vegetables. The certificate is raised and AQIS inspections made in accordance with the protocols issued by the UAE.
Included in the current protocols is the requirement for all shipments to be free of Collembola. There are two of specie of the bug, but only one ‘Hypogastruridae’ is not acceptable to the UAE.
The insect is found on most green-leafed fruit and vegetables — in particular strawberries and celery — which are the two main air freight products to Dubai.
Any shipments detected with the insect are rejected by AQIS.
According to Alan Mason, AQIS acting manager export plant programs, there has been no change of protocol for horticulture produce going to the UAE. “Our Canberra office has not been informed of any discussions between the UAE and Australia on the springtail issue by Bio-Security Australia.”
He said that for changes of import requirements, the UAE government would need to officially inform either AQIS or Bio-Security Australia before AQIS could alter its inspection procedures/requirements for the UAE.
“It would be best for WA growers/packers to contact the Department of Agriculture — either horticulture or entomology divisions — for appropriate controls and treatment measures. They are the experts in this area,” added Mason.
It has been estimated that in WA alone, the exports of up to 200 tonnes of produce a year — worth about A$500,000 — are being lost because of the springtail problem.
While this is considered relatively small to overall export values, it is significant to the Dubai air freight trade lane — and especially so when recent data shows that over the last five years total perishable air freight exports from WA have declined by a massive 50 per cent.
One industry source said that while the UAE demanded a Phytosanitary Certificate, the authorities in Dubai made no inspection of product on arrival. The same source said it was understood that the UAE government had already instructed Canberra to remove the springtail from the protocol, but that it has been impossible to confirm from either Bio-Security or AQIS whether or not this was correct.
It is also understood that the insect cannot survive in temperatures higher than 25C; therefore despite the fact that the species is quite harmless anyway, it poses absolutely no threat in the ambient temperatures of the Middle East which, for the most part, well exceed 25C.
