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New Zealand tomato and capsicum growers have been told their produce will be allowed back into Australia under a temporary solution to cope with concerns about a pest bacteria.
Biosecurity New Zealand said today Biosecurity Australia had revised its constrains on imports of NZ tomato and capsicum to allow shipments to resume.
Re-opening of the trade was about two months later than growers wanted, as they needed to plant for their summer crops in October.
The bacteria has since been linked to potato disease, known as "zebra chip", found in Texan crops, and one Auckland potato crop.
It was initially found in three Auckland commercial hothouses in January.
The warnings also unfortunately coincided with overseas headlines about an unrelated bacteria - salmonella - on tomatoes in America making people sick.
Australia blocked imports of tomatoes, capsicum and potatoes, and tamarillos, Fiji blocked tomatoes, capsicum and potatoes and Japan also stopped key imports.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) said today the Australian ban on tomatoes and capsicums was the last against those species to be lifted.
MAF plant exports team manager Karen Sparrow said the Australians' new requirements, "are tighter than would have been preferred".
The measures include clearance by Australian biosecurity inspectors in New Zealand, methyl bromide fumigation, sending only from registered export greenhouses, spot spraying if psyllid insects which spread the bacteria are sighted, and MAF phytosanitary certification.
A proposal for permanent quarantine measures are due to be released soon.
The nation's overall tomato exports are worth $7.3 million annually and capsicum exports are worth $34 million.
- NZPA
