THE head of Australia’s ginger industry says he is furious with a decision to allow imports of fresh ginger from Fiji, with confirmation some permits have already been granted.
The Australian Department of Agriculture finalised the import conditions last month, one month after the Federal Government announced a review into the way import risks were measured.
Despite criticism, a department spokesperson says there are tried and tested systems in place to protect Australia from pest and disease, in accordance with the World Trade Organisation.
Anthony Rehbein, from the Australian Ginger Growers Association, says rules to make sure ginger imports are free from soil and treated with a surface spray aren’t enough to kill a destructive roundworm.
“The roundworm or (burrowing) nematode that is in the ginger reproduces internally inside the ginger, methyl bromide is a surface spray; it does not penetrate the product.
“I think there needs to be more science applied,” he said.
He says the industry is applying for a $A500,000 ($F847,000) project to further research the nematode.
