Western Australia
September 30, 2011
A substantial consignment of Western Australian seed potatoes has been cleared for export to Indonesia, following pre-shipment pest and disease testing rather than following arrival overseas.
This new system ensures a better quality product for overseas customers and has been welcomed by the Department of Agriculture and Food.
Department Director of Plant Biosecurity Shashi Sharma said the new arrangements had worked well involving cooperation between the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS), the Indonesian quarantine service, the WA Government, testing laboratories and exporters.
“Western Australia has an excellent reputation as a source of disease-free potato seed,” Dr Sharma said.
“Growers export seed to various south-east Asian and Indian Ocean countries as well as interstate, but interest has increased since WA obtained area freedom from potato cyst nematode in 2010.”
Seed potatoes are specially-grown potato crops and overseas markets are particular about pest and disease freedom, size, varieties and other specifications.
During the recent exercise, five Indonesian quarantine officials came to Western Australia for two weeks, during which time they visited potato packing houses at Donnybrook, Manjimup and Yarloop to sample potatoes.
They then carried out extensive testing at Murdoch University, visited the department’s plant testing laboratories in South Perth and had discussions with officials.
Grower and exporter Tom Fox of Lake Jasper Certified Seed Potatoes said pre-shipment rather than post-shipment inspection had major advantages, preventing a perishable commodity sitting for lengthy periods on wharves awaiting inspection before distribution.
Mr Fox has been exporting seed potatoes to Indonesia for more than 10 years. This year he will export about 1600 tonnes in total.
“Sending perishable products overseas entails a large risk, as you can’t bring it back if it fails any tests,” he commented. “A standardised system of testing before shipment would have huge advantages for both exporters and importers, and we hope this may soon be possible.”
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