Aphids found on NZ fruit in China

New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) biosecurity investigators were reviewing export systems after woolly apple aphids were found on fruit sent to China.

Deputy Director-General Barry O'Neil said Chinese authorities discovered hundreds of the aphids, some of them still alive, in several containers two months ago, the New Zealand Press Association reported on Monday.

The problem was revealed at an exporters' session at Pipfruit New Zealand's recent annual conference in Nelson.

The consignments were treated with methyl bromide and the apples sold, but Chinese authorities have warned their New Zealand counterparts.

O'Neil said the discovery raised questions over the certification of two or three shipping containers as free of bugs.

It was a serious concern when access to 150 markets was based on confidence in the certification system.

The un-named Hawke's Bay packhouses involved have had their approvals to export fruit withdrawn, and O'Neil said that in future serious deficiencies identified in a packhouse were likely to lead to greater suspensions.

Pipfruit New Zealand chief executive Peter Beaven said growers were working with MAF to introduce new systems to satisfy the Chinese authorities.