1 Jun 2011

Australian apple growers lobby politicians

1:59 pm on 1 June 2011

Apple and Pear Australia was due to release its economic impact statement on Wednesday about the effect that apple imports from New Zealand will have on growers.

Last month Biosecurity Australia issued a new set of conditions governing the importation of New Zealand apples.

The organisation was forced to review its original quarantine conditions after the World Trade Organisation ruled what was proposed breached trade rules.

Meanwhile Australian apple growers were lobbying federal politicians on Wednesday to try to change the Government's decision about allowing New Zealand apples into Australia, the ABC reports.

Western Australian grower Lucinda Giblett says it isn't about competition, but safeguarding the pristine growing environment in Australia.

She says Australia is one of the last places in the world that's relatively free of pests and diseases, and New Zealand actually has the most serious pests and diseases in horticulture.

Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Peter Silcock says Australian growers need to start coming to terms with the fact that New Zealand apples will be on their shelves soon.