KEY POINTS:
A ban on New Zealand apples entering Australia has been formally lifted, but a set of strict conditions remains.
The Government yesterday welcomed the publishing of Australia's Final Policy Determination on the import of New Zealand apples, which ends an 86-year ban due to fears local apples could carry the disease fireblight.
However, the new Australian policy still contains a set of strict conditions on New Zealand apple imports that have angered local growers.
Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton and Trade Minister Phil Goff said those conditions remained a concern and the World Trade Organisation disputes process might have to be engaged if the new determination could not deliver "meaningful access".
"With this formal document, we are a step closer to exporting apples to Australia.
"However, before any trade can take place Australian and New Zealand biosecurity officials have to agree on the practical implementation of the Australian requirements," Mr Goff said.
Local growers concerned about delays in the publishing of the final determination this week sent an open letter to Australia's top agricultural bureaucrat, Joanna Hewitt, asking her to finalise the process.
A spokeswoman for the growers told NZPA they needed to have the decision formalised in the next five days if orchardists were to be able to meet rigid requirements such as inspections of the trees from which fruit would be picked for export.
Last month the independent government agency Biosecurity Australia rejected 11th-hour attempts by Australian growers to block the apple imports from New Zealand.
- NZPA
