“This will give growers greater autonomy and flexibility in responding to market access opportunities and also offer significant cost savings through reduced government inspection fees when meeting NSW’s quarantine entry conditions,” Ms Evans said.
“Biosecurity officers will visit farms operating under the new agreement to audit the fruit inspection process and ensure biosecurity requirements are being met.”
Ms Evans said the department had worked closely with growers and the Australian Banana Growers’ Council to identify any areas where growers could be empowered, without putting the wider industry at risk.
An article on queenslandcountrylife.com.au explains how the new Interstate Certification Assurance Accreditation Operational Procedure ‘Inspection of bananas for freedom of soil and plant material’ was developed by Biosecurity Queensland in partnership with Biosecurity Solutions Australia.
