By LIAM DANN primary industries editor
The New Zealand apple industry could get a $50 million boost following a promising decision by the World Trade Organisation.
The WTO rejected Japan's appeal against a ruling that its quarantine restrictions on apples were inconsistent.
The decision moved the NZ industry a step closer to getting
access to Australia and Japan.
The case was brought by the United States but New Zealand was a third party in the dispute and made submissions to the WTO panel.
Apples from New Zealand and the US have historically been excluded from Japan and Australia because of fireblight.
The virulent disease is present in the US and New Zealand but not Japan and Australia.
The US and New Zealand successfully argued that there was no proof that fireblight could be spread by the apple fruit itself.
Pipfruit Growers chairman Phil Alison said the decision was fantastic news for the industry. "The decision is important for New Zealand's access to Australia."
Canberra is considering an application by the pipfruit industry for permission to export to Australia.
Alison said the application had been bogged down in the political process for some time but would be helped by the WTO decision.
The panel assessing the application would have to take account of the Japanese ruling, he said.
Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton said he hoped Japan would take prompt action to remove longstanding restrictions on the New Zealand apple exports.
It was clear the WTO ruling supported New Zealand's long-held concerns about the unjustified restrictions, he said.
Apple exports were worth $474 million last year.
Pipfruit experts conservatively estimate that New Zealand could initially export 500,000 trays a year to both Japan and Australia, giving the industry an immediate 10 per cent boost in returns.
Fireblight
* A disease of apples, pears and related trees caused by the bacterium erwinia amylovora.
* Native to North America.
* Causes wilting of leaves and blossom, shrivelled blackened fruit - burned appearance.
* Treatment requires severing and burning affected branches or uprooting entire tree.
