Food industry against deal

Press, 29 May 1982, Page 1

Food industry against deal

PA Wellington Vegetable processors are concerned about a Government plan to discontinue export incentives on processed vegetables after March 31, 1984.

The proposal has been put to the Australian Government as part of the agreement on closer economic relations. Frozen and canned peas, beans, and corn, and all processed potato products are affected. The executive officer of the Grocery Manufacturers’ Association, Mr E. G. Newman, said that the industry had accepted in good faith, the repeated assurances of the Government that there

would be no change in present export incentives until March 31, 1985, at the earliest, and that some form of support for exporters would continue after that. “We have been conscious that Australia considered horticulture products a sensitive area, and the Government was under pressure to make special arrangements for some horticultural products,” Mr Newman' said. “However, the early and abrupt termination of export incentives is a most unfortunate option and directly contrary to the recommendations made by the industry."

The association has asked the Government to re-exa-mine the position urgently.