Central Otago apple growers have refused to export to Australia, claiming current regulatory procedures are a “non-tarrif trade barrier”.
The current Australian import regulations were put in place following a ruling by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that Australia’s ban on New Zealand apples had so scientific basis and should be removed.
However, Central Otago growers have objected to the expense and time taken to complete regulatory procedures under the regime on New Zealand apples imposed by Biosecurity Australia.
“In my view, the level of scrutiny that they are choosing to exercise is basically a non-tariff barrier … for us in Otago at the moment the viability of sending to Australia is uneconomic due to the compliance costs,” Pipfruit New Zealand director and Central Otago apple grower Stephen Darling told the Otago Daily Times.
“… at a packhouse level, the rules and protocols in relation to how the packhouse is run in order to meet Australian requirements – high level of auditing and direct costs – make fruit uneconomical, especially in this first year,” he added.
With only one Central Otago packhouse being approved for supply to Australia this season, most growers have turned off the idea of shipping to the Aussie market.
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