Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig has promised no decision to import New Zealand potatoes will be made until a scientific review is finalised.
Democratic Labor Party (DLP) senator John Madigan raised concerns in the Senate about a devastating pest disease that could wreak havoc on Australian crops if the federal government doesn’t block the import of fresh potatoes from New Zealand.
The bug, known as the tomato-potato psyllid, causes “zebra chip” in potatoes, meaning when cooked they develop black stripes that render them inedible.
Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said his department was committed to a transparent process in assessing the risks of importation.
“I’m advised the draft conditions for the import would require potatoes to be in bags or covered on arrival,” he said.
“All potatoes … would be under quarantine management until they leave a factory, cooked and frozen in a plastic bag.”
Senator Ludwig said no decision to import potatoes from New Zealand would be made until the contestable science-based review is finalised.
Australian vegetable growers have raised the same biosecurity arguments that have stopped Kiwi apples entering Australia despite World Trade Organisation rulings in favour of New Zealand.
They fear the bug could destroy Australia’s $1.5 billion vegetable industry.
Source: news.com.au