Nueva Zelanda: New Zealand calls off potato export plan

Potatoes New Zealand has withdrawn its application to the Australian Government seeking market access for fresh potatoes for processing into Australia.

Peak body AusVeg has opposed the proposal for years, saying it would leave Australia open to a potential incursion of the Tomato-potato psyllid.

The psyllid is not yet present in Australia and carries devastating potato diseases, such as Zebra chip, which has caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage to the NZ potato industry.

AusVeg chief executive Richard Mulcahy said the peak body was “extremely relieved” the application wouldn’t go ahead.

“Zebra chip can significantly reduce the yield and health of potato crops and render potatoes unsaleable,” Mr Mulcahy said.

The New Zealand potato industry has been devastated by the effects of Zebra chip disease.

“This is certainly not a scenario we want to see replicated in Australia.”

The Australian potato industry had lodged its objections to the import of NZ fresh potatoes, highlighting the lack of scientific rigour applied to imports of fresh produce from other countries and citing the selective nature of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Biosecurity Import Risk Analyses.

“A Senate Committee echoed our concerns regarding the import of New Zealand fresh potatoes in 2014, noting a lack of confidence in the department’s ability to keep the Tomato-potato psyllid and Zebra chip disease from entering the country,” Mr Mulcahy said.