Taiwanese lift suspension on New Zealand apples

31 May 2007

Taiwanese lift suspension on New Zealand apples

New Zealand is now able to resume apple exports to Taiwan following a six week suspension.

Taiwanese officials suspended exports in mid-April following the interception of one codling moth larva in a consignment of Fuji apples to Taiwan.
Peter Johnston, Senior Adviser MAF Exports Group says the hard work of the New Zealand Government and industry, as well as the constructive approach of the Taiwanese Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection, had allowed exports to resume while the robustness of New Zealand’s export programme had been reinforced.

He said immediately after exports were suspended, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, with the assistance of Pipfruit New Zealand, conducted a thorough investigation into the detection of the moth larvae. This included a detailed examination of the production system from the orchard through the packing process, coolstore and final export.

“The main measures put in place to reinforce the robustness of the systems relate to record keeping of pest control practices at orchards and an increase in reporting requirements of codling moth by packhouses.

“Taiwan is a valuable export market for New Zealand apples and it is a huge relief for all involved that exports can now resume,’’ Mr Johnston said.
New Zealand exports approximately one million cases of apples to Taiwan making this an important market for New Zealand apples.

``Securing an early resumption of trade has provided the New Zealand pipfruit industry with a good opportunity to build the market in the current season and take advantage of the current gap in the supply window.”

ENDS

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