NZ takes apples row with Australia to WTO

The Government is to ask the World Trade Organisation to get access for New Zealand apples on the Australian market.

Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today New Zealand had been trying for many years to get access for New Zealand apples to Australia where the fruit was banned because of concerns they carried fireblight bacteria.

He said that scientific evidence clearly showed that was not the case.

The Government had put the issue on the agenda of the WTO phytosanitary committee.

- NZPA