RP pineapples get nod from Australian agency

The Philippines is a step closer to bringing locally-produced fresh pineapples to the elusive Australian market.

Officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said quarantine agency Biosecurity Australia (BA) has conditionally approved the use of hydrocyanic acid for pineapple fumigation which the Philippine government requested as an alternative to the methyl bromide fumigation method preferred by Australian food quarantine authorities.

"This is a positive development," said a DA official involved in the negotiations with the Australian government for the entry of pineapples and other tropical fruits to the land down under which has steadfastly put up barriers to outside competitors.

The DA official admitted, however, that export of pineapples to Australia could drag on till next year because several trials or experiments still have to be conducted to perfect the prescribed method of fumigation.

Moreover, the BA is requiring the Philippine government to show the effectiveness of hydrocyanic acid as a fumigant. This should be easy for the country to comply with since the use of the fumigant is already accepted worldwide said the DA official.

This early, multinational pineapple processing companies Del Monte Philippines Inc. and Dole Asia have already expressed keen interest in expanding their Asia-Pacific markets to include Australia which can accommodate about $50-million worth of Philippine-produced pineapples.

DA authorities added the government will also ask Australia to allow fumigation at the entry ports of Australia rather than have the process done in the Philippines. Currently, Australian pineapple importers provide the fumigation facilities set up at the country’s entry ports.

"The cost of exporting to Australia will definitely be lower if the facilities are already provided for by the buyers," a DA official said.

Previously, the Philippine and Australian governments were at loggerheads over the issue of giving access to pineapple exporters.

Australia required two conditions, for the entry of Philippine pineapples to its domestic market. One was the fumigation of the product using methyl bromide from the port of origin, and the other one was the decrowning of the fruit which the Philippine government already temporarily acceded to.

The Philippine government protested the use of the methyl bromide because it is known to contribute to the thinning of the ozone layer while decrowning of the fruit shortens the shelf life of the product. Also, increases in storage temperature at levels required by this fumigation method accelerates the deterioration of the fruits.