2016-02-10
Questioning by Senator Rachel Siewert in Senate estimates last night has revealed Australian lettuce linked to an outbreak of salmonella may have been exported overseas.
“Up to 23 consignments of produce from the same establishment linked to the salmonella outbreak have headed to Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand.
“Australia has a reputation of clean, green fresh export products that help drive our export economy. To hear that products are being exported from a farm that has just had major contamination issues is a concern.
“The Australian Government does not have export certification for salmonella, and the only action the Department is aware of is heightened inspection at the Thailand border.
“This represents another gap in our export/import biosecurity and health protections, I urge the Government to look at how this can be addressed".