Australian apple process rorted according to Pipfruit NZ chief

Pipfruit New Zealand chairman Ian Palmer says "the gloves are off" in the battle to gain access for New Zealand apples to the Australian market.

Palmer said he was dismayed by the stringent proposed rules for allowing NZ apples into Australia - set out in a draft import risk analysis received from Biosecurity Australia last week - but going to the World Trade Organisation would not bring a speedy solution.

"Now we have had the opportunity to study the report in a little more depth, it underlines for us how badly flawed their IRA process is," he said. "The whole process has been rorted".

"How could they exclude us from Western Australia on the basis of blackspot in the same week the Western Australian government admits they are dealing with a blackspot outbreak?"

The New Zealand industry had waited patiently for seven years in the expectation that objective science would deliver meaningful access, he said.

"Instead, we find the whole process has been rorted, both the mathematical modelling process they use and the fact they have two growers on their risk assessment team. It's nothing but a kangaroo court."

The Australian team had ignored a WTO decision from earlier this year, which concluded that chlorine dipping and orchard inspections were not needed or justified.

- NZPA