Market access is a complicated space that takes years to establish, and can be cut off relatively quickly. A series of shipments that are deemed non-compliant by an importing country can result in that trade being shut down, and this can have serious implications for food and fibre exporters and the economy. As it can only take the actions of a few export entities to have an impact on market access, it is important that all growers, packhouses, treatment facilities and exporters are fully aware of their legal responsibilities for controlling pests and diseases. The Victorian Government, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Government, has provided extensive assistance to nectarine growers in order to assist them to comply with the China export protocol. In June 2015 and June 2016, DEDJTR Biosecurity worked closely with the Australian summerfruit industry and the Commonwealth Government to run workshops to prepare industry for the protocol. This was to ensure industry were informed and able to comply with export conditions. In addition, DEDJTR Biosecurity worked with industry to facilitate an audit visit from a Chinese delegation in December 2015. The audit focused on nectarine orchards in order to determine if the Australian summerfruit industry was prepared to export nectarines to the protocol standard. The result of this audit was favourable and the support that industry gained from DEDJTR Biosecurity was essential to this outcome. China used the information collected during the audit to continue to work with the Commonwealth Government to finalise the protocol in time for trade to commence in 2016. Figure 4: A Chinese delegation being showed fruit fly management procedures on a nectarine farm in Victoria (DEDJTR Biosecurity, 2016)
Market access is a complicated space that takes years to establish, and can be cut off relatively quickly. A series of shipments that are deemed non-compliant by an importing country can result in that trade being shut down, and this can have serious implications for food and fibre exporters and the economy. As it can only take the actions of a few export entities to have an impact on market access, it is important that all growers, packhouses, treatment facilities and exporters are fully aware of their legal responsibilities for controlling pests and diseases. The Victorian Government, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Government, has provided extensive assistance to nectarine growers in order to assist them to comply with the China export protocol. In June 2015 and June 2016, DEDJTR Biosecurity worked closely with the Australian summerfruit industry and the Commonwealth Government to run workshops to prepare industry for the protocol. This was to ensure industry were informed and able to comply with export conditions. In addition, DEDJTR Biosecurity worked with industry to facilitate an audit visit from a Chinese delegation in December 2015. The audit focused on nectarine orchards in order to determine if the Australian summerfruit industry was prepared to export nectarines to the protocol standard. The result of this audit was favourable and the support that industry gained from DEDJTR Biosecurity was essential to this outcome. China used the information collected during the audit to continue to work with the Commonwealth Government to finalise the protocol in time for trade to commence in 2016. Figure 4: A Chinese delegation being showed fruit fly management procedures on a nectarine farm in Victoria (DEDJTR Biosecurity, 2016)