Appointment effectively a trade barrier

January 11, 2002
For immediate release

Australian Biosecurity appointment effectively a trade barrier

PGNZI Chairman Phil Alison said today that New Zealand growers will feel deeply disappointed at the appointment yesterday of Ian Armour, a recent President of the Australian Apple and Pear Growers’ Association, to the panel considering New Zealand’s application for access to the Australian market.

“The application process should be based on sound science and be fair and independent,” said Mr Alison. “But it is difficult to imagine that independence can be achieved in the light of the Australian Apple and Pear Growers Association’s opposition to New Zealand’s case for market access.

“The appointment is justified by the Australian Government on the grounds that the committee, in the words of Biosecurity Australia, ‘may not include a sufficient level of expertise in the areas of industry processes and trading patterns..’ In our view, this is simply another way of encouraging the decision to be politically motivated rather than scientifically based as it should be.”

Mr Alison said that as a result of a lobbying campaign undertaken by the Australian Apple and Pear Growers Association, New Zealand’s application to export apples has been a continually moving target.

“Now as immediate past president of that body, Mr Armour is in a position to directly influence the outcome of the application. This is completely unacceptable to New Zealand apple growers,” he said.

Ends

Issued by PGNZI

Phil Alison
Chairman
Phone 025 440 347

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