It could take years for Australia’s ban on apple imports from New Zealand to be lifted, according to New Zealand trade minister Phil Goff.

Goff described the Australian veto against the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) investigation into the legality of the ban as a “standard action”.

But Australia’s blocking of the investigation will only delay the process by a month, Goff said in local press reports, until the WTO disputes body meets again and establishes a panel.

The establishment of a panel can only be blocked once under WTO rules.

But Goff has said it may take a few more years to lift the ban, which was imposed in 1921 to prevent the risk of fireblight disease spreading, through the long-winded procedures of the WTO.

“We believe our approach is science-based and our apple exports don’t pose a biosecurity threat to Australia,” Goff told NZPA. “We’re going through the WTO disputes procedure because we’re not able to resolve the dispute directly with Australia. It is being done amicably…we just have a difference of view.

“The downside of the WTO procedure is the length of time to reach a resolution. It could easily be three or four years to get a result. We would like a result yesterday,” Goff added.

Earlier this year Australia agreed to accept New Zealand apples under tight quarantine restrictions, but delaying tactics have frustrated New Zealand growers.

Topics