Movement controls that have been placed on over 100 New Zealand kiwifruit orchards affected by the recent Psa outbreak are being lifted by the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The Restricted Place notices were implemented by the Ministry in a bid to control the movement of people, plants and material that may spread the Psa bacteria, which has been confirmed in the vines of at least 100 orchards.
However, growers with infected vines will now be issued with a General Permissions document, as well as a suite of best-practice orchard management guidelines, according to the New Zealand Press Association.
Included in the documents are instructions that allow growers to return to full orchard operations while minimising the risk of spreading Psa, as well as outlining grower's obligations under the Biosecurity Act.
'This action will allow greater flexibility for the movement of equipment and personnel between orchards, including Psa-affected orchards,' said Peter McBride, chairman of the recently established Kiwifruit Vine Health.
'Kiwifruit Orchard operations across New Zealand will now be redefined as a result of the presence of Psa,' he added. 'All growers are strongly encouraged to adhere to the newly defined best practice orchard management guidelines and operational processes.'
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