KEY export industry groups have joined together to urge the Senate not to block the Federal Government’s proposed increase in quarantine inspection fees.

Peak bodies in the red meat, dairy, grain trading, horticulture, fishery and biological farming sectors have written to all Senators in advance of a vote later today on the coalition’s motion to disallow the proposed fee hikes.

The move adds to the growing industry-based pressure being applied to get the fee hikes  - which are still a major concern to many food exporters -  through the parliament so that the associated $40 million package of reforms to inspection services can also be implemented.

Writing on behalf of eight industry bodies, Red Meat Advisory Council secretary Justin Toohey said the food industry had formed a “loose consortium” of organisations whose members had a direct interest in the AQIS fees and charges regulations currently before the Senate. 

In his letter,  Mr Toohey  said consortium members who engaged today in a teleconference hook-up were aware of some concern about the proposed regulations.  “However, as bodies representing food commodities that incur over 90% of AQIS export certification charges, those on the teleconference wish to state they do not want the regulations disallowed by the Senate,” his letter said. 

The letter said this was based on:
-       reluctant acceptance of full cost recovery for export certification services provided to industry by AQIS;
-       strong support for overdue reform of AQIS’ services as delivered to industry; and
-       a belief that the urgent reforms sought by industry are fundamentally tied to the regulations not being disallowed by the Senate at this time.

“The consortium members on the teleconference ask that you support the regulations,” the letter said. 

“We also ask that you follow the progress of reforms within AQIS over the next 12 months to ensure that this opportunity for significantly increased efficiency in delivery of service is realised. 

“We, as industry groups paying for the AQIS service, will be closely engaged in pursuing ongoing improvements in AQIS delivery of service.”

The so-called industry consortium for export certification reform comprises RMAC, Australian Dairy Farmers, Grain Traders Australia, the Horticulture Australia Council, Biological Farmers of Australia, the National Herd Improvement Association of Australia, the National Acquaculture Council and Australian Tuna.