Citrus industry calls for fungicide tests

The US Government is testing shipments of orange juice after traces of carbendazim were found in concentrate from Brazil.

The chemical is used to control a range of fungal diseases in fruit including mould, mildew, blight and rot. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority is currently reviewing its use in Australia because of concerns it may cause birth defects. Australia imports 32,000 tonnes of frozen orange juice concentrate from Brazil every year.

The chairman of the Citrus Growers of South Australia, Mark Chown, says juice already on sale in Australia needs to be tested. "We are concerned that by having contamination made aware in the United States that it may have a bearing on the sale of orange juice and oranges here in Australia which will affect our growers through no fault of their own," he said.

"Clearly the Government needs to heighten its testing and make sure that the product here is clean and safe."South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon agrees.

He says the Government has been slow to act following the contamination concerns."The advice is to still buy juice but to get juice that is labelled product of Australia or juice that is 100 per cent Australian juice because that way they know it doesn't have these sort of chemicals."