SPC Ardmona has pleaded with the federal government to introduce emergency tariffs on canned tomato and fruit imports to help resuscitate the beleaguered industry.
In a submission to the Australian Productivity Commission, the company has proposed a 30 per cent tariff on tinned tomatoes and a 45 per cent tariff on tinned fruit for 200 days, to give the industry ''breathing space''.
This means countries which export tinned goods to Australia will have to pay a higher tax, which would either increase the supermarket shelf price of imported goods, or stop the imports altogether.
Local growers, Sugar Australia and peak fruit and tomato bodies have supported the call, while countries that import tinned food into Australia such as Argentina, Turkey, Chile, South Africa and Thailand have opposed the move, which comes before a public hearing in Canberra next week.
SPC Ardmona blamed the rise of the Australian dollar, cheap imports and the decision by the major supermarkets to sell more imported products for causing serious damage to the Australian fruit and tomato industry.
