West Australian Nationals MP Vince Catania is calling for an immediate halt to American grape imports to allow new research on Red Blotch Virus (RBV) to be considered.

Mr Catania has written to WA Agriculture Minister Ken Baston and Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, calling for a moratorium and full pest risk analysis to be conducted.

The grape industry is estimated to be worth $900 million to Western Australia by 2015.

Mr Catania says new research shows the parts of the plant that can carry RBV are more widespread than originally thought and the disease can also be carried in fruit, even if not showing symptoms.

"There's been new information come to light and I think it's incumbent on both state and federal governments to enforce a moratorium for at least two years, to be able to fully investigate the potential effect of Red Blotch Virus.

"It's a huge industry for the West Australian economy and important not only for Carnarvon with the table grapes, but also for growers down south in the wine industry," he said.

Red Blotch Virus affects grapes through discolouration, as well as stunting the growth of vines.

"There's no cure for this virus, you have to rip out the affected vines which would place a huge financial cost on the industry," Mr Catania said.

He stresses the chance of the virus entering Australia is small, but says any risk is too great to ignore.

"It could have a devastating effect, so if there's any doubt I think it's incumbent on our agriculture departments to make sure all the research is done to ensure a 100 per cent safeguard," he said.

Californian table grapes have been imported throughout the rest of Australia since 2002 but only entered the West Australian market in July last year.

While Mr Catania admits he is not a fan of imported fruit even when disease is not involved, he says that is not behind his call for the ban.

"I am not a fan of imports full stop, given the fact we've got our own produce here and we're trying to grow agriculture in Western Australia.

"But I'm vehemently opposed to the importation of any product that has a disease that could affect the industry we currently have."

Carnarvon growers feel the bite of American imports

Dom Condo has grown grapes in Carnarvon for many years and says the arrival of Californian fruit in the market has affected his bottom line.

"It was a stressful and hard season.

"We had a reasonable crop and the importation of American grapes had a serious effect on our income," he said.

"Our figures are that we picked 51 per cent more fruit for nine per cent less return."

Mr Condo says he holds real concerns about Red Blotch Virus.

"Any virus that comes into this country could totally devastate our industry, both in Carnarvon and down in the south-west and the mid-west.

"I've been reading some work that's been done in California about Red Blotch and my understanding is that it's been in California for about seven years and it's spreading throughout their industry.

"If they've got concerns there, why shouldn't we be concerned, it could devastate us," he said.

The WA Department of Agriculture has issued a statement in response to questions posed by ABC Rural.

"The Federal Department of Agriculture sets the criteria for importing table grapes from overseas," it read.

"Australia has signed trade agreements that ensure we can have two-way trade, based on scientific risk assessments, without trade bans used as a form of protection.

"WA growers need access to foreign markets so we have to abide by the same rules.

"The rest of Australia has had table grapes imported from California since 2002.

"In July 2013, after federal authorities deemed the risk of disease to be significantly low, the Department of Agriculture and Food WA amended its import conditions to allow them into WA."



The Federal Department of Agriculture has also issued a statement and the link to their final report is provided below.

"The Department of Agriculture regularly reviews existing import policies for plant commodities to ensure that the best systems are in place to address known biosecurity risks.

"The department consulted closely with the Western Australian Department of Food and Agriculture in conducting a risk assessment for Californian table grapes into Western Australia.

"The review of policy considered grapevine red blotch associated virus (see appendix D of the final report for full details).

"Californian table grapes have been imported to all other states and territories of Australia since 2002.

"The final report recommended permitting the importation of Californian table grapes to Western Australia, utilising existing quarantine measures used by all other states and territories of Australia."