California table grapes to Western Australia

   The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has expanded the market for California table grapes to include Western Australia.
   The addition of Western Australia is anticipated to boost the estimated export value of table grapes, which last fiscal year was valued at $54.2 million.
   “Access to Western Australia for California table grapes had been a longstanding issue for the United States and was a priority issue within Australia,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement. “Now, through the efforts of APHIS personnel, along with their Australian counterparts, U.S. table grapes can enter into Western Australia under the same conditions as they enter into the rest of Australia.”
   On April 9, Australia published a draft of the existing policy for California table grapes to Western Australia. On July 18, the country published a final risk analysis and policy for market access of California table grapes to Western Australia, effective July 23. Following this announcement, the government of Western Australia amended its legislation to allow access for California table grapes starting immediately.
   “This final policy allows entry of U.S. table grapes exported to Western Australia under the same conditions that exist for the rest of Australia. Pests of concern to Western Australia, including harlequin ladybird, have been added to the list of pests of concern for table grapes, USDA said.