10 August 2005

Summerfruit access to Western Australia welcome

Trade Negotiations and Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton has welcomed Biosecurity Australia's recommendation that New Zealand stone fruit be permitted access to the Western Australian market.

While New Zealand stone fruit is exported to other states in Australia, it has been banned from Western Australia for quarantine reasons specific to that state. Western Australia was until several years ago free from brown rot, a disease of stone fruit.

Mr Sutton said the new import health standard was a significant milestone that should open up an important new market for New Zealand apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums.

"It is very good news for the New Zealand summerfruit industry.

"I am delighted to hear of this development. We have argued for a long time that the grounds for allowing access to our stone fruit are compelling.

"Exports to Western Australia should be able to begin in the coming stone fruit season, to the benefit of New Zealand producers and West Australian consumers alike."

Biosecurity New Zealand would now need to study the detail of Biosecurity Australia's conditions for market access and will respond within the 30-day comment period, Mr Sutton said.

ENDS

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