The complaint in relation to the behaviour of Feger di Gerardo Ferraioli A.p.A. and La Doria S.p.A was lodged by SPC Ardmona Operations Limited, amid concerns the exporters were ‘dumping’ tinned tomatoes into Australia. The companies’ products represent approximately half of the imported Italian tomatoes in Australia. 

“The Anti-Dumping Commission’s recommendation is great news for Australian vegetable and potato growers struggling against cheap, inferior foreign imports and rising production costs,” said AUSVEG Deputy CEO, Andrew White. “We hope that the imposition of duties will go some way to levelling the playing field for Australian producers, who must regularly compete against foreign producers with far lower costs of production, who in many cases are receiving government subsidies which further enhance their competitive advantage.” 

White said, “It is vital that Australian vegetable and potato growers and local processors are able to compete on an equal footing with their international counterparts.” 

“In previous investigations into canned tomatoes, 103 of 105 canned tomato exporters from Italy were found to be illegally dumping their goods on our shores and duties were imposed. It is positive news that the Anti-Dumping Commission has recommended duties be imposed on the remaining two exporters.”

“We are hopeful that this recommended action will send a further message to foreign businesses exporting to Australia that they cannot simply dump their cheap produce on our shores and hurt the local industry in the process.”

“The effects of this illegal dumping can reach far beyond the tomato industry. If left unchecked, they could set unwanted precedents for international companies exporting to Australia that could have flow-on consequences for the Australian vegetable and potato industries.”

In its submission to the Anti-Dumping Commission, SPC estimated that the processed tomato industry in Italy benefited from subsidies paid to tomato growers under Europe’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

AUSVEG has previously highlighted the significant effect that Europe’s CAP could have on Australian growers, with vegetable imports from Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and France having increased substantially since 2007-08.

“In light of the recommendation, AUSVEG hopes that the Australian Government will take a firm stance on the dumping of produce on our shores when they make their final decision in this case,” White said.