WA apple industry remains protected from NZ imports

3/04/07
Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance has welcomed Biosecurity Australia's decision to prohibit New Zealand apples from entering Western Australia.
Mr Chance said the new biosecurity policy determination recognised WA's regional differences in pest status and risk.
"Biosecurity Australia has decided that apples from New Zealand can be imported to Australia subject to the Quarantine Act and specified phytosanitary (plant health) measures," he said.
"However, after consulting with the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, Biosecurity Australia agreed there was a lack of practical measures that would provide WA with an appropriate level of protection against apple scab.
"As a result, the plant health measures in the final import risk analysis report for apples from New Zealand include prohibiting the entry of apples into WA."
The Minister said the State Government would continue to work with the WA apple industry to maintain regional freedom from apple scab.
"The Carpenter Government is making decisions for the future of regional WA," he said.
Minister's office - 9213 6700