Australia bans imports of California grapes because of insect infestation.In an effort to protect their wine industry Australia has banned imports of California table grapes because of fears they may spread the grape virus Pierce's disease. Australia's quarantine quarantine (kwŏr`əntēn), isolation of persons, animals, places, and effects that carry or are suspected of harboring communicable disease. watchdog, Biosecurity Australia Biosecurity Australia is an arm of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It provides science based quarantine assessments and policy advice to protect Australian agricultural industry, and to enhances Australia's access to international animal , recently rejected an application to import grapes saying they may bring with them the glassy-winged sharp shooter (GWSS GWSS Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (insect) GWSS Groundwater Supply Survey ), an insect that carries Pierce's disease, which has ravaged rav·age v. rav·aged, rav·ag·ing, rav·ages v.tr. 1. To bring heavy destruction on; devastate: A tornado ravaged the town. 2. the California wine industry. The Australian authorities said there was too much risk in allowing the importation of California grapes. An initial report last year had backed the importation of California grapes, causing a backlash of industry condemnation. Biosecurity Australia reopened its investigation after further reports of the devastation the GWSS had caused in the U.S. reached Australia. There were also concerns about the proposed methods that were to be put in place to control the GWSS. |
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