Growers in Australia want inspection rules for New Zealand apples to be made tougher after some leaf matter and a dead insect were found in a consignment destined for export.
Biosecurity Australia cleared the way for New Zealand apple imports on 17 August, following a World Trade Organisation ruling that fears of the fruit carrying the disease fire blight were scientifically invalid. The ban had been in place since 1921.
Australia's Quarantine Inspection Service has confirmed the rejection of a shipment of apples from New Zealand.
Apple and Pear Australia says the failed inspection is extremely disturbing, especially within days of the import ban being lifted.
But Pipfruit New Zealand chief executive Peter Beaven says it shows that protocols are working and there is no risk to Australia.
Growers in Australia are now calling for a greater proportion of apples to be inspected.
Mr Beaven says that will add to the costs for New Zealand exporters and is part of a knee-jerk reaction, including plans by the South Australian government to introduce quarantine zones in the state's apple growing regions.
The chairman of the Heartland growers group in Nelson, John McCliskie, says if the checks are made any tougher, some exporters might decide that sending apples to Australia is not worth the effort. However, after working for so many years to access the market, many growers aren't about to give up.
South Australia Agriculture Minister Michael O'Brien told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme he is not being unnecessarily cautious after the state declared three fruit-growing areas off-limits.
The chief executive of the Apple and Pear Growers Association of South Australia says their greatest fear was always that this kind of material would be found in packing boxes. Greg Cramond says this poses the greatest risk in terms of the transmission of fire blight.
