Crunch time - apple imports

This Background Note summarises the situation regarding apple imports from Japan, China, New Zealand and the United States. Primarily the paper outlines the significant stages and processes that have led to the present situation. However its scope does not include consideration of the technical issues covered by Biosecurity Australia in the respective import risk analyses; inspection and testing arrangements for imported foodstuffs; nor the management and administration of Australia’s biosecurity regime or associated WTO arrangements