By LIAM DANN primary industries editor
An 83-year ban on New Zealand apple exports to Australia looks likely to be lifted - but with strict conditions.
Australian quarantine officials have released a draft Impact Risk Assessment report which should open the way for New Zealand apple access, Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton said
yesterday.
Exports to Australia could provide an industry boost of as much as $20 million.
New Zealand and US apples have historically been excluded from fireblight-free Japan and Australia because the virulent disease is present here and in America.
Last year the World Trade Organisation ruled Japan's quarantine restrictions on apples inconsistent with scientific opinion on the spread of fireblight.
The case was brought by the US, but New Zealand was a third party in the dispute and made submissions to the WTO panel.
It was expected then that the decision would force Australia to look at its ban on New Zealand apples.
Early on it seemed any lift on the ban would be restricted to areas of New Zealand without fireblight and that the apples would have to be specially treated before export.
Sutton said ministry officials would closely examine the conditions to ensure they took into account the "significant international scientific consensus" confirmed by the WTO ruling.
Pipfruit New Zealand chairman Phil Alison described the draft as a positive step.
The Australian market had a potential export value of $20 million a year, he said.
Apple exports are already worth more than $400 million.
"Our initial assessment [of the report] gives us confidence that robust scientific processes have been applied," Alison said.
But the process was not complete yet. The report would now be open for comment from all interested parties and strong interest from Australian apple growers was expected.
He expected the draft would be developed into a final practical protocol within six months.
The New Zealand industry would try to work with Australian growers to increase the overall consumption of apples across the Tasman.
