Shrimp affected by white spot disease. (Photo: Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Western Australia)
Import of raw prawns suspended
AUSTRALIA
Saturday, January 07, 2017, 03:10 (GMT + 9)
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has announced the importation of raw prawns into Australia will be suspended, after the detection of an outbreak of white spot disease in Queensland.
The Australian government is concerned infected prawns could make it into the waterways, further spreading the disease in Australian prawn farms.
According to the deputy minister, a white spot disease outbreak could devastate Australia’s AUD 360 million (USD 263 million) prawn industry.
Imports of raw prawns amount to about AUD 50 million (USD 36.5 million) annually, news.com.au reported.
The import suspension would remain in place indefinitely until risks were minimised, but will not affect imported cooked prawns, the minister stressed.
Since November, there have been four farmers with white spot incursions, spread across five properties on the Logan River, between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
It was the first time the disease, which kills prawns but is harmless to humans, was discovered in Australia.
"I do know it [the disease] comes from Asia and certainly the Americas and the importation of raw prawns into Australia was a vector that we've been highlighting from the Australian prawn association for many years," Joyce said.
However, on the other hand, Seafood Importers Association of Australia said they had not been consulted before the suspension was announced.
The association's executive chairman, Norman Grant, pointed out that authorities still do not know how white spot reached Australia, and said it is too early to blame the imported product.
"The source of the infection hasn't even been discovered and won't for some time and perhaps won't at all," he highlighted.
Furthermore, the leader said consignments of imported raw frozen prawns already undergo strict testing for white spot, and must be peeled and have the head off before coming into Australia.
Meanwhile, Federal Department of Agriculture confirmed 73 imported consignments had tested positive for white spot between May and December last year, which were sent back or destroyed.
Related articles:
- Another prawn farm tested positive to white spot virus in Queensland
- White spot disease confirmed in prawn farm
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