. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/194
11 July 2000
(00-2832)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
AUSTRALIA'S IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON TROPICAL FRESH FRUITS
Statement by the Philippines at the Meeting of 21-22 June 2000
1. ASEAN would like to bring before this Committee its concerns with regard to major
difficulties it encounters in access to the Australian market for tropical fresh fruits in view of stringent
phytosanitary measures applied by Australia, which we believe are inconsistent with their obligations
under the WTO Agreements.  Major ASEAN exports including mango, banana, pineapple, durian,
pomelo and carambola, which are widely accepted by other importing countries regardless of theirgeographical characteristics (i.e., islands or mainlands), continue to face restrictions in the Australian
market.  Thus, although ASEAN believes there is substantial potential for trade in agriculture with
Australia, this is not realized due to stringent phytosanitary restrictions.
2. For example, in the case of certain tropical fresh fruits where no international standards,
guidelines or recommendations exist, Australian authorities refuse to recognize phytosanitaryprotocols which, following rigorous scientific tests, have been considered adequate by other countries.
3. For several fresh tropical fruits, such as pineapple, banana and pomelo, Australia's stringent
SPS measures are applied without benefit of any risk assessment exercise.  While in some cases, such
as that of mango and durian, Australia has agreed to undertake import risk assessments, considerable
delays in the conduct of risk assessment are being encountered due to Australia's constant requests for
additional and new data, which, moreover, are costly to the ASEAN exporters and governments.
4. ASEAN believes that considering the existe nce of adequate alternative phytosanitary
measures, and also taking into account technical and economic feasibility, the standards imposed by
Australia with respect to fresh tropical fruits appears to be more trade restrictive than is necessary.  It
may be recalled that the purpose of the establishment of multilateral rules and disciplines as embodied
in the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary is to guide the development,
adoption and enforcement of SPS measures in order to minimize their negative effects on trade.
5. Furthermore, with respect to our particular concern on tropical products, it may also be
recalled that the preamble of the Agreement on Agriculture provides that "… developed country
Members would take fully into account the particular needs and conditions of developing country
Members by providing for a greater improvement of opportunities and terms of access of agricultural
products of particular interest to these Members, including the fullest liberalization of trade in tropicalagricultural products …"
6. In order to address these concerns, ASEAN would like to request Australia to consider
importing tropical products that are free from pests and disease, and not require that they must be
from a pest- or disease-free area.  This principle is internationally accepted.G/SPS/GEN/194
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7. Following the above, ASEAN would like to urge Australia, through this Committee, to bring
its SPS measures on tropical fresh fruits in line with the principles and provisions of the SPS and
other relevant WTO Agreements.
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