Alarm over suspected illegal sales of imported peanuts

Australian biosecurity authorities are investigating claims that imported raw peanuts are circumventing strict quarantine regulations and being sold directly to consumers, raising fears of exotic plant diseases entering the country's vital peanut-growing regions. Under Australian law, imported raw peanuts must either be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate confirming they meet plant health standards or undergo processing at an approved facility before they can be sold.

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We've been in it for four and five generations now and … I've never seen this before. This is the worst breach I've ever seen.

Sonie Crumpton, general manager of Crumpton Interstate, Australia's largest peanut processor and a significant grower based in Kingaroy, raised the alarm. His staff were alerted in April by customers in Sydney and Melbourne to suspect peanut packets appearing in stores. Subsequent testing of these products indicated the peanuts were viable for germination, suggesting they had not undergone the required processing. "We've been in it for four and five generations now and … I've never seen this before," Crumpton stated. "This is the worst breach I've ever seen."

Crumpton believes the nuts are being imported in container loads, primarily from China and Brazil, entering the country mainly through Melbourne and then distributed nationally, including via online marketplaces. Kingaroy crop consultant and former peanut breeder Graeme Wright expressed primary concern over the potential introduction of peanut smut disease, a soil-borne illness from South America that has severely impacted commercial peanut industries there. "If we ever got that disease here, it would be the end of the industry," Wright warned.

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If we ever got that disease here, it would be the end of the industry.

Wright, who has decades of industry experience, noted that a bag of Chinese raw peanuts he purchased from an Australian-based online marketplace appeared suspect. He also highlighted the risk posed by home gardeners planting imported raw peanuts, which could inadvertently introduce the disease into the environment. Federal member for Maranoa, David Littleproud, reported raising the issue with Agriculture Minister Julie Collins over a month ago with little response and is urging the minister to quarantine suspected non-compliant stock and mandate recalls for affected products. A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) confirmed they are assessing the allegations and will take "strong enforcement action where non-compliance is identified."

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We are taking this report seriously and will take strong enforcement action where non-compliance is identified.