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Capital:
Canberra
Population: 21,263,000
Currency: Australian dollar
Official Language(s): English
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Please click on the above link for a list of chemical MRLs.
II. CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVE INFORMATION
(1) Australia sets its own Maximum Residue
Levels (MRLs) for chemicals on food. It does not defer to
Codex standards in the absence of its own established MRL for a
particular chemical. (2) Australia cooperates with New Zealand
in monitoring the food supply system of the two countries under the
umbrella of Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
B. Monitoring chemical residues:
(1) A governmental
pesticide monitoring program for imported food is implemented by
the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (ASQIS), through
the Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS). A
distinction is made for purposes of frequency of inspections
between risk categorized food and a surveillance category (low
risk food). (2)
Importers, wholesalers and some retailers commonly use a private
sector industry “Fresh Test Program” introduced in 2002 for the
independent sampling and analysis for pesticide residues (also
microbial contamination) on imported and domestic fresh fruit.
Samples are normally collected at wholesale by an
independent party, the shipment is
released, the sample tested and confidential reports are made back
to the business requiring the tests. An active system of investigation,
corrective action and re-testing is in place
should an adverse result be obtained..
An adverse result is
defined as one where the MRL is exceeded or where, under FSANZ, Australia has no
established MRL for the particular chemical. If there is no
MRL, then under local law there should be no detectable residue.
Residues of the following
pesticides were detected on Pacific Northwest cherries last
year: azoxystrobin (Abound), fenarimol (Rubigan),
thiacloprid (Calypso), boscalid and pyraclostrobin (Pristine),
myclobutanil (Rally) and quinoxyfen (Quintec).
Effective May 20, 2010,
FSANZ officially approved MRLs for nine additional pesticides
used on sweet cherries from the Pacific Northwest: Pristine (boscalid and pyraclostrobin); Altacor (chlorantraniliprole);
Belt (flubendiamide); Rally (myclobutanil); Penbotec (Pyrimethanil);
Quintec (quinoxyfen); Delegate (spinetoram); and permethrin.
The MRL values approved by FSANZ for these pesticides have been posted
to the MRL table which is linked to this page. Additional cherry requests have been submitted by the
NHC for the next FSANZ MRL proposal currently under consideration
for the 2011 growing season..
C. Restrictions on use of waxes:
III. TARIFFS
Apples:
zero duty
Pears: zero duty
Cherries: zero duty
V. NON-TARIFF BARRIERS
Australia provides duty-free access for
apples, pears, cherries and stone fruits.
Fresh fruit imports are required to be labeled with the country
of origin, the importer and exporters, and a code that relates to
the individual shipment, i.e., date packed, etc.
Apple imports are prohibited from all sources due to the
possibility of introducing fireblight. Similarly, pear
imports also are prohibited, except for some
Asian pear varieties. Nashi pears may be imported from
Japan, China and Korea. Chinese Ya pears and Fragrant pears
may also be imported.
Effective for the 2010 season, cherry
exports to Australia must undergo an interim visual inspection
protocol (600 fruit per fumigation lot examined under 20x
magnification) pending the outcome of ongoing fumigation trials
designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of methyl bromide
fumigation against spotted wing Drosophila (Drosophila Suzukii or
SWD). SWD is a vinegar or fruit fly. It is
anticipated that these trials will be completed in June
2010. Additional information regarding this protocol is
available from USDA/APHIS cooperators in each state.
Cherries exported from the United States are not permitted into
Western Australia.
E. Solid Wood Packing Material (SWPM) Regulations:
Please refer to the SWPM section of the NHC's Technical
Bulletins and Industry Advice.
VI. SUBSIDIES
The Australian apple and pear producing industries do not receive
subsidies for production or export.
VII. OTHER RESOURCE LINKS:
Northwest Cherry Growers/Washington State Fruit Commission:
John Baker
Produce Marketing Australia
Voice: 011-612-9744-6366
Fax: 011-612-9744-8722
Governmental:
Australia:
VIII. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
USDA/APHIS has requested access to Australia for
apples and stone fruit from the Pacific Northwest.
On August 3, 2004 President Bush signed into law
the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act.
The U.S.-Australia FTA entered into force on January 1, 2005.
Under this FTA, both countries' duty free access
for apples, pears and cherries is maintained. The U.S. canned
pear duty of 15.3% will be eliminated over 18 years.
Special Thanks to -
FAS Field Office - Australia
105 South 18th Street, Suite 105
Yakima, Washington 98901, USA
Voice: (509) 453-3193, Fax: (509) 457-7615
E-mail
general@nwhort.org
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