Australia ’s agriculture industries are call on the Federal Government to reaffirm its commitment to Australia ’s biosecurity system and address what they call unacceptably high levels of non - complaisance of import cut flowers from high hazard body politic , which threaten Australia ’s $ 70 billion farming industry .
The Department of Agriculture carry out an import permit system in September 2019 for dispatch of slash flowers and foliage to Australia from Kenya , Colombia and Ecuador follow biosecurity business organisation raised from industriousness .
However , this has not resulted in reduce non - compliance from imported cut flowers to an acceptable level , according to AUSVEG .
“ There continue to be gamey rates of non - compliance via this pathway and we call for inviolable action at law , ” said AUSVEG National Public Affairs Manager and National Farmers Federation Horticulture Council Executive Officer Tyson Cattle .
“ Flowers imported from Kenya , Ecuador and Colombia make up a bulk of the value of Australia ’s imported cut flowers and foliage industry , but this $ 70 million trade should not jeopardise the viability of Australia ’s plant diligence and the broader agriculture industry , valued at $ 62 billion , which creates one C of thousands of occupation and is the lifeblood of many regional and rural communities . ”
“ We applaud Federal Government ’s reception to other biosecurity concerns , such as African Swine Fever , but we bonk the cut flowers manufacture carry a significant biosecurity risk and it needs to be address . ”
“ The governance introduced a organization to mitigate this peril to Australia ’s flora industry , but it has rise to be inefficient , which is sternly threating to our local industries . ”
“ cut back flower meaning should be under the same biosecurity protocol as all other imported products , which get to ‘ reduce biosecurity risk to a very low level , but not zero ’ . Non - compliance rate of up to 50 - 60 per penny are unacceptably high ; even 25 per cent is still one in four , which would not be acceptable . ”
AUSVEG is a signer to the Emergency Pest Plan Response Deed ( EPPRD ) , which is a legally - bind agreement between Plant Health Australia , Federal and State Governments and national flora manufacture body .
“ The best and the most cost - efficient way to protect Australia from pest and disease is at the border , ” Mr Cattle say .
“ Once a pest or disease is found on Australian shore it becomes even more expensive for industry and the taxpayer to manage or eradicate it . We have raw advantages due to our geographic fix and we can not afford to be complacent . ”
“ Until the government activity ingest the required action to address the unacceptably in high spirits non - compliance rates of flower imports from these commonwealth , our industries are extremely vulnerable to pests and diseases that could ravage our intemperately - influence growers . ”
For more information : AUSVEGwww.ausveg.com.au
