RESTRICTED COM.AG/W/34/Add. 5 GENERAL AGREEMENT ON 30 August 1968 TARIFFS AND TRADE Limited Distribution Agriculture Committee Original: English AUSTRALIA Information Supplied in Respect of FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Table of Contents Page Fresh fruit and vegetables (excluding citrus fruit) 2 A. Production: production measures and policies 2 B. Protection and support measures and policies I. Internal support treasures and policies 4 4 II. Measures at the frontier 4 C. Consumption and internal price D. International trade and prices¹ 7 Canned fruit 42 A. Production: production measures and plicies 42 B. Protection and support measures and policies 44 I. Internal support measures and policies 44 II. Measures at the frontier 44 C. Consumption and internal prices 67 D. International trade and prices 70 Citrus fruit 72 A. Production: production measures and policies - 72 B. Protection and support measures and policies 74 I. Internal support inmeasures and policies 74 II. Measures at the frontier 74 C. Consumption and internal prices 75 D. International trade and prices 76 ¹Information supplied under D.1. refers to all fruit and vegetables. COM.AG/W/34/Add.5 Page 2 FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES (APPLES AND PEARS) The following information relates exclusively to apples and pears. Apart from apples and pears, and citrus fruit, there is no significant export trade in other fresh fruit or vegetables. A. Production: production measures and policies A.1. Statistical data on total volume of production, acreage and average yield A.2. Trends in production and estimates for 1970 and Projections for 1969/70 28.72 12.53 350.0 28.78 13.10 376.9 28.82 12.85 3699.9 29.15 13.32 388.2 Pears (including canning varieties) 1964/65 7.87 15.35 120.8 1965/66 L.OO 19.13 152.8 1966/67 7.95 16.85 13,3. 8 1969/70-1 7. 80 18.80 14Ù . 6 ¹Projection. These increases have been largely a result of improved yields. It is anticipated that there will continue to be some increase in average yields. On the other hand, however, it is noted that increases in bearing acreages are tapering off. A range of factors, including marketing prospects, are expected to discourage any significant increases in plantings. A.3. Statistical data on carry-over stocks and stockpiles Stocks of apples and pears hold in cold store are given below as at June each year. This fruit is held by private traders primarily for domestic consumption. These are, in effect, working stocks and there is no carry-over from season to season. There arc no Government stocks. COM.AG/W/34/Add.5 Page 3 Apples Pears (metric tons) (metric tons) June 1965 95,886 12,783 June 1966 71,656 11,317 June 1967 98,367 15,045 A.4. Factors which affect production Exports account for some 40 per cent of apple production and 35 per cent of pear production and long-term trends in the industry can be expected to be influenced by considerations relating to export possibilities and prices. Production research and extension work is undertaken as part of the regular programmes of the various State Departments of Agriculture and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (C.S.I.R.O.). It has been largely through the activities of those bodies - through the rôle they have played in the introduction of more sophisticated techniques, better sprays, better varieties, etc. - that yields have shown steady improvement. A.5. Policies and measures of the Government likely to influence production Apart from those mentioned in A.4. above, there are no measures directly related to the industry which are likely to influence production. It right be noted, however, that in 1967 the industry agreed not to expert certain sizes and varieties. COM.AG/W/34/Add. 5 Page 4 B. Protection and support measures and policies B.I. Internal supportmeasures and policies B.I.1. Inventory of the instruments of support There are no governmental measures to support the industry. B.I.2. Levels of guaranteed prices or support prices There is no system of guaranteed or support prices. B.I.3. amount of producer subsidies No producer subsidies are paid other than those on fertilizers which apply to rural industry generally. B.I.4. Average returns to producers The very nature of the industry - many different varieties being grown in different areas - precludes the provision of average returns which would not be misleading. B.I.5. Method of determining returns for producers All trade is in private hands and the distribution pattern - both for export and domestic consumption - tends to vary from place to place. There areindividual producer/exporters, producer/retailers, co-operative packing houses and producer-to-wholesaler transactions. Prices obtained at different, times of the year are influenced by the level of supplies and by the price and availability of competing fruit. Suitable varieties are cold-stored to provide virtually a year-round supply of fresh fruit. B.II. Measures at the frontier There are no restrictions on imports (which meet normal health requirements) subject to payment of the respective import duties. Details of relevant duties are given below: COM.AG/W/34/Add.5 Page 5 CUSTOMS TARIFF Rates of duty Item Goods General Preferential 08.06.000 Apples, pears and $0.006 per lb. 0.002 per lb. quinces, fresh Primage 10 per Prinage 5 per cent cent 08.02.000 Citrus fruit, fresh or $0.008 per lb. $0.003 per lb. dried* Primage 10 per Primage 5 per cent cent PNG: Free New Zealand Oranges, whole, fresh NZ: Free COM.AG/W/34Add.5 Page 6 C. Consumption and internal prices C. Statistical data on consumption C.2. Trends in consumption and estimates for 1970 No separate data are available for apples and pears. However, par caput consumption of all fresh fruit (excluding citrus) has been rising. For example, in the there years ended 1966/67, per caput consumption has been put at 35.3 kgs., 39.7 kgs. and 39.9 kgs. respectively. However, these figures should be read only as providing a general guide to consumption trends and not as a completely reliable statistical conclusion. C.3. Retail and wholesale prices on major internal markets Apple prices (average for Delicious and Granny Smith varieties) and pear prices on the Sydney wholesale markets, at the end of each quarter of 1964/65 to 1966/67, are given blow expressedd in US$). Marketing costs are not available. September December March June (Spring (Summer) (Autumn) (Winter) US$/kg. US$/kg. US$/kg. US$/kg. Apples 1964/65 0.206 0.346 0.170 0.196 1965/66 0.223 0.230 0.165 0.203 1966/67 0.138 0.424 0.160 0.173 Pears 1964/65 0.162 0.354 0.1-51 0.215 1965/66 0.215 0.239 0 ,159 0 .1 5 1966/67 0.254 0.434 0.124 0.183 C.4.Factors which condition the evolution of internal consumption, including interdependence of products Pome fruit are kept in cold storage for out of season release to the market, which allows apples and pears to compete with other fruit through- out the year. C.5. Policies and measures affecting consumption There are no subsidies affecting Australian consumption of freeh apples and pears and no non-commercial disposal schemes. COM.AG/W/34/Add.5 Page 7 D. International tradeand prices D.1. Statistical data on total volume and value of imports and exports sourceby andEstimation Explanatory note: Imports Items shown are those where import values exceeded $A20,000 in either of the two years. Due to the introduction in 1965/66 of a new. Import Commodity Classification, details are not available on a comparable basis prior to that year. Exports Countries shown are those where export values exceeded $A40,000 for the year indicated. (A dash means the value for the year was $A40,000 or less.) Information supplied here refers to all fruit and vegetables. page 8 AUSTRALIA IMPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS 1965/66AND Commodity Quantity Value 1965/66 1966/67 1965/66 1966/67 Country Metric tons US$ '000 Coconuts in the shell New Hebrides 211 4207 1 1 Papua/New Guinea 1961£7 i11l Other countries 171 207 ! 16 19 Total 57' 5 ,. Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, in the shell Brazil 70 O 70 Other countries '16 Total Preparedcoconuts (e.g.desiccated) Ceylon 1i,2 1,522 4f74 Philippines 6,536 3$2 | ,216 967 Tonga 266 369 97 12 Other countries Brazil nuts, not in shell Brazil 169 302 21 356 Peru 7 °9 ' 47 UnitedKingdom Other countries 5 2 ' 7 10 Total l':7 ^"'2 2.'., / Cashew nuts, not in shell India 1,2r5 1703. 1,55" 27,77 Mozambique 2.72 .17 37 1 155 Tanzania - 137 , 17e; Other countries 1l - 1 3 1 Total 1,5,1.2 1 55: ¾ C ; 2,710 COM.AG/W/34/Add.5Page 9 AUSTRALIA IMPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS 1965/66AND 1966/67(cont'd ) Commodity Quality Value 1965/66 1966/67 1965/66 1966/67 Country Metric tons '000US$ Almonds, not in shell Italy 66 A' Spain . i 5C, 15` -9so United States J61 '';1",Si'7 Total Kazelnuts, not in shell Spain 10 0 92 1 'v Turkey T ,71 Z)it7;1 2U1 ! United States 9 1 25 o ', Other countries 77 ; Total China (Mainland 55 t 5 ^ 2Æ,' United States -t 0 55 G Other countries 12 .'~ 2 ' Other nuts not in shell (excludes almonds,coconuts,Brazil, cashew, hazelnutsand walnuts) n,:) United States ,/,.C 1 1 , Italy r% ;è 1 0 Other countries 19 1 @ 10 --r Total il 1n ,Mc COM.AG/W/34Add.5 Page 10 AUSTRALIA: IMPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS 1965/66 AND 1966/67 (cont'd) Commodity Quantity Value Country Fresh strawberries, not pulped New Zealand Metric tons Mexico Metric tons Other countries Metric tons Total Fresh berries, not pulped (other than strawberries) Now Zealand Metric tons 42 24 United States Metric tons 42 13 Other countries Metric tons 24 28 10 10 Total 24 112 10 47 Fresh passionfruit, Papua/New Guinea '000 gallons 3 53 15 Othercountries '000 gallons 2 1 3 13 4 f 56 16 Iran Metric tons 788 1,599 116 269 Iraq Metric tonstons 22,404i 1'5754 321 *233 United States Metric tons 136 164 77 91 Metric tons - 126 - 26 other countries Metric tons 6 4 4 1 3 Total 37335 3,646 520 622 Dried figs Greece Metric tons 100 101 28 32 Turkey Metric tons 237 287 67 91 Other countries Metric tons 23 20 9 7 Total 360 408 104 130 COM.AG/W/34/Add.5 Page 11 AUSTRALIA: IMPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS 1965/66 AND 1966/67 (cont'd) Commodity Quantity Value Unit Country Country 1965/66 US$'0001966/67 1965/661 1966/67 ther dried fruit excludes dates.