Revised pre-export kiwifruit checking processes are in place for New Zealand kiwifruit exports to China in response to the notification regarding the discovery of the fungus Neofabraea actinidiae. These processes have been approved by the Ministry for Primary Industries which is notifying the Chinese authorities. NZ kiwifruit suppliers are now rechecking China supply fruit under these new processes and Zespri shipping is due to resume to China next week.
A spokesperson from Zespri said: ''Sales of kiwifruit which have cleared into China continue as normal and our sales season continues positively in China, on track to exceed last year’s volume, with another 7 million trays forecast to export to China this season. There have been two more finds of Neofabraea actinidiae from fruit which arrived in market before the new checking procedures were put in place and it is possible there may be more finds. Meanwhile shipments of kiwifruit continue to clear the border and this issue has only affected around 2 percent of the fruit which has arrived in China to date.''
Neofabraea actinidiae is a fungus that causes fruit to rot in long term storage and has no food safety implications. Zespri’s rigorous quality systems for checking and rechecking our fruit means this affects only a tiny fraction of the 135 million trays we’re shipping this season.
For more information:
Rachel Lynch, Senior Communications Advisor
Zespri International Limited
Tel: +64 7 572 7757
Mob: +64 27 509 1805