ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/19/07 23 October 2007
Red Wheat is Not From Australia
Media reports of imported red wheat from Australia are incorrect.
“India has only imported white wheat from Australia. The red wheat to which media reports refer is therefore clearly not Australian wheat”, Acting Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr David Holly said.
“As Indian Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, said earlier this month ‘Australian wheat is exactly like Indian wheat but it is not red wheat’”, Mr Holly added.
“Australian white wheat, which is traded around the world, enjoys an enviable reputation as being a quality leader in the international grains market”, Mr Holly said. “We sympathise with those faced with poor quality wheat, but urge the media to correct inaccurate reporting that the red wheat is Australian.”
Background
Following a hiatus since 2001-02, India imported white wheat from Australia over the period April 2006 – March 2007. India has not imported wheat from Australia since this time mainly due to Australia’s drought.
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) inspects all Australian wheat prior to its export to India. AQIS has confirmed that all wheat exported to India met the quarantine conditions and quality standards specified by the Government of India.
On arrival in India the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Trading Corporation of India (STC) and the Department of Health and Family Welfare all inspect the imported wheat. If these agencies find that there are any quarantine conditions or quality standards which have not been met the wheat is rejected.
For further information, please contact, Mr David Ingham, Counsellor (Agriculture), Australian High Commission, on 011 4149 4354.