June 14, 2005

Australia's trade credentials questioned again

Australia's leadership on agricultural trade liberalization was again questioned after its Federal Court ruled May 27 that the government's Biosecurity Australia opened the domestic pork industry to unnecessary risk from foreign disease when it eased restrictions on imported pork.

The pork case follows a string of challenges to Australia's quarantine system brought by other countries such as Canada, Philippines and New Zealand, with claims that Australian authorities have used the quarantine regime to block imports.

Pork producers have rejected Biosecurity Australia's analysis of the risk posed by imported pork, pointing out that their industry was opened to the threat of previously unknown diseases after the easing of restrictions. One such disease cited was PMWS or post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome. 

Australian Pork also called for an overall halt to imports of pork, particularly PMWS pork from countries like Denmark, Canada, and US. The Australian government has yet to respond to these demands.

Last year, Australia imported 70,000 metric tons of pork, primarily from Canada and Denmark. American pork-the main beneficiary of the changed rules¡ªstarted to enter the market late in 2004.

In March this year, US pork had 28 percent of Australia's import market, according to a US Embassy report. It is estimated that Australia would import about 28,000 tonnes of US pork this year if regulations remain unchanged.