Orchid imports to Australia resume after a halt

Orchid imports to Australia resume after a halt

In a significant development, the suspension of moth orchid exports from Taiwan to Australia has been lifted, following a series of inspections and compliance checks. The suspension, which had been in place since 2020, was due to concerns about pests and diseases found in some batches of moth orchids.

Between July and December 2021, inspections in greenhouses across Taiwan confirmed that the moth orchid growers were adhering to Australia's quarantine requirements. These inspections, carried out by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, showed that the greenhouses were complying with Australian standards, addressing the previous concerns.

To meet the Australian quarantine requirements, Taiwan implemented enhanced quarantine management measures. This included a program focused on improving the health standards of moth orchid exports and ensuring the greenhouses followed strict controls. As a result, 26 greenhouses operated by 18 registered exporters in Taiwan were recognised as qualified to export moth orchids to Australia.

These measures ensured that the exported moth orchids no longer posed unacceptable biosecurity risks to Australia, leading to the lifting of the suspension.

Moth orchids are one of Taiwan's most important export flowers, with more than 50 million plants shipped overseas annually. The greenhouses that have been approved to export to Australia annually ship over 2 million moth orchid plants, worth more than US$7 million. The total export revenue of moth orchids from Taiwan exceeds US$140 million.

The resumption of exports to Australia is expected to help diversify market risks due to increased tariffs on Taiwanese moth orchid imports in the US. Orders for orchid exports to the US dropped by 15% following a 10% US tariff implementation.

This collaborative effort between Taiwanese researchers from the Agricultural Research Institute, National Chung Hsing University, and the Taiwan Orchid Growers' Association has led to the development of new techniques to prevent or control pests and diseases. The quality of moth orchid exports was stabilised as a result of these efforts, and inspections in June showed no issues.

This news marks a positive step forward for the moth orchid industry in Taiwan, allowing them to expand their market and continue to supply high-quality orchids to consumers around the world.

[1] Source: Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.

1. The resumption of moth orchid exports from Taiwan to Australia, following the lift of the suspension in 2021, will encourage a diverse export market and potentially counter significant tariffs on Taiwanese moth orchid imports in the US.
2. As the moth orchid industry in Taiwan continues to focus on refining its lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and travel products, the increased market opportunities with Australia will further boost its annual revenue that exceeds US$140 million.

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