Australian imports of fresh decrowned pineapple on the cards

Related tags Risk Fruit Malaysia

Australia’s director of animal and plant quarantine is expected to approve the import of fresh decrowned pineapple fruit from Malaysia. The decision based on consideration of a final risk analysis report for the import of the fruit from Malaysia.

However, this determination is an administrative step and is not the final step in the process, and a number of other steps must first be completed before imports can commence.

Before trade can take place, the department must first agree upon a work plan with the Malaysian Department of Agriculture, detailing how Malaysian producers, packers and government officials will ensure that Australia’s strict import conditions will be met.

Officials from Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) will then visit Malaysia to audit the implementation of the agreed import conditions and measures set out in the work plan, including registration of production sites, operational procedures in packing houses and any treatment practices, such as fumigation.

The department said that no import permit will be issued until it is completely satisfied that import conditions are consistent with measures proposed to manage biosecurity risks, and that Malaysia is able to comply. This is a standard process for all imports of controlled biosecurity managed imports.

The issuance of an import permit is a regulatory process that is subject to judicial review.