Pineapple growers raise biosecurity concerns as Asian imports considered

Pineapple growers raise biosecurity concerns as Indian and Indonesian imports considered Thu 6 Aug 2026 at 9:20am In short: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has released a report assessing the risk of importing pineapples from India and Indonesia. Australian growers say the local industry can supply the domestic market without relying on imported fruit. What's next? The draft report is open for consultation until September 14, 2026. Australian pineapple growers fear a proposal to allow imports of the fruit from India and Indonesia could expose them to foreign pests and diseases. The federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has released a draft assessment report on the risks of importing decrowned pineapples after both countries requested market access under existing trade obligations. The report found the fruit could be safely imported if strict biosecurity requirements were met to manage eight identified pests, most of which are species of mealy bugs. But farmers believe imports are an unnecessary risk, as local fruit is meeting domestic demand. While the assessment does not automatically mean trade will occur, farmers want risk management procedures to be closely scrutinised. 'Minimal uptake' Second-generation grower Colin Hawken is worried the trade could open his farm at Mungar, south-west of Maryborough, to new threats. "There are certain pests and diseases in India and Indonesia that we don't have here," he said. "If we do get those diseases here, we've got nothing to fight them with." As a member of the World Trade Organization, the department said Australia has international obligations it must meet, including assessing import proposals and developing conditions that are scientifically backed and don't unnecessarily restrict trade. Under those obligations, the department cannot assess the potential economic impact of additional market competition, but it can rate the risks of identified pests and diseases. Australia currently allows fresh decrowned pineapples to be imported from the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Taiwan, while import conditions are being finalised for Malaysia. Australia received approximately 18 tonnes of pineapple from Taiwan in 2025, and there were no imports from any other country in the past five years. Chief executive of Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers Scott Kompo-Harms said the imports were not needed. "Australia's biosecurity is one of our greatest natural assets, and we need to protect that," he said. "If there are control measures that are put in place, we want to see that they are being abided by over the long term with regular monitoring." To reduce the risk of pests, the DAFF report suggested treatments such as fumigation and irradiation and recommended unit inspections and traceability to the farm and packing houses. Year-round supply While Indonesia's and India's pineapple production surpasses Australia's, growers here believed there was enough supply to satisfy domestic demand. In the 2024/25 financial year, Australian farms produced 68,373 tonnes of pineapples … more than two-thirds were sold as fresh fruit. "We can provide pineapples 365 days a year, and we can look after our own market," Mr Hawken said. "At the moment pineapples are a bit short, and we're receiving a premium price, but other times of the year we're certainly at or below cost of production." The national farmgate value was estimated to be $78.6 million. In recent years growers have invested in new varieties and marketing campaigns to make fresh pineapples more appealing as they competed with canned products. Scott Maxwell, chairman of Australian Pineapples, said the momentum the industry has experienced could be at risk. "Every imported pineapple that's bought is an Australian pineapple that's not bought from an Australian farmer, which affects Australian jobs," he said. "Growers are very concerned because it affects their livelihoods, they're the ones left to clean up the mess if there is an incursion." Consultation open The pineapple industry is making a formal submission in response to the draft report. The consultation period runs until September 14. Stakeholders' comments will inform the final report, which will include responses to technical issues. That report is expected to be released in the second half of 2027, and even if importation is recommended, both India and Indonesia will need to demonstrate they can implement all required controls before trade can begin.