In August last year, the Papua New Guinea National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA) prohibited the importation of many levied vegetables including potatoes, cabbage, carrots, capsicums, pumpkin, peas, zucchini, eggplant, Chinese cabbage, French beans, lettuce and celery.

“We are happy to see the Papua New Guinean Government relax the import ban of selected fruits and vegetables, even if it is temporary,” said AUSVEG National Manager – Export Development, Michael Coote. “While Papua New Guinea is not the biggest export market for Australian vegetable growers, it was worth $3.8 million to the industry in 2014-15 and is an important trading relationship in the region.”

“Australian vegetables had been exported to PNG without major issue for a number of years prior to the ban, and command a premium price in the retail sector and expatriate-staffed industries such as mining settlements.”

“The loss of any export market increases pressure on Australian growers due to the difficult conditions in the domestic industry. We hope that common sense prevails in this situation and the ban is reversed permanently following the three-month period.”

AUSVEG said that it’s committed to its activities in the field of export development and opening new markets for Australian vegetable growers.

Australian vegetable industry export development activities are funded through Horticulture Innovation Australia using vegetable levy funds and funds from the Australian Government.