On The Land
24 October, 2026
Concerns grow over pineapple import plan
HOT on the heels of the pomelo import debacle, the Federal Government is being urged not to allow fresh pineapple imports from India and Indonesia.
The Australian pineapple industry is calling on the government not to approve proposed imports, warning that unresolved biosecurity concerns could put domestic production and the broader pineapple supply chain at risk.
In May, the government approved the import of pomelos from Vietnam, but suspended them in September amid concerns about pest and disease symptoms found on some consignments and an in-country audit identifying failures in the implementation, oversight and verification of agreed phytosanitary measures.
Now, Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers (QFVG), representing the Australian pineapple industry, is pleading with the government to block imported pineapples from coming into the country, saying important questions remained about pests that could enter with imported fruit, whether proposed treatments would be effective and how Australia would respond if a pest became established.
“Biosecurity is fundamental to the future of Australian pineapple production. If a serious pest establishes here, the costs of managing it could be significant, and the consequences could extend across the industry,” QFVG chief executive officer Scott Kompo-Harms said.
“For a relatively small industry, an incursion could have a substantial impact on production and profitability, with flow-on effects for the businesses and jobs supported by Australian pineapple growing and processing.”
An independent review of the draft assessment has raised concerns about how key pests have been considered, whether pests could go undetected on imported fruit and whether proposed treatments would be effective under commercial conditions.
The review identified questions about pineapple mite, which was excluded from detailed assessment in the draft report, and mealybugs, which can hide in the deep crevices between pineapple fruitlets, making them difficult to detect through visual inspection.
It also raised concerns about Australia’s ability to manage an incursion if a high-priority pest became established, including whether effective control measures and appropriate response plans would be available.
“Having a treatment listed in an import protocol is not enough. We need clear evidence that it will work under commercial conditions, that the controls can be verified and that there are effective plans in place if something goes wrong,” Mr Kompo-Harms said.
“The cost of an incursion is not limited to controlling a pest. It can also mean lost production, higher operating costs and disruption to the supply chain. Those risks need to be properly assessed before an import pathway is approved.
“Consultation has now closed, but that does not mean the outstanding concerns have been resolved,” Mr Kompo-Harms said.
“The Government must properly consider the evidence and address the identified risks before making a decision. The potential economic consequences of a biosecurity failure are too significant to leave these questions unanswered.”
Nationals Leader Senator Matt Canavan has urged those who want to stop pineapples from being imported to go to https://protectourpineapples.com.au/ and sign the petition.
