Export ban on eggplants to NZ affecting Fiji farmers

Around 150 farmers and seven exporters have been affected by a ban on eggplant exports to New Zealand. The fruit has been slapped with a temporary suspension after the NZ Ministry for Primary Industries intercepted eggs, live larvae and adult insects on a consignment of heat-treated fruit from Fiji last month.

New Zealand director Plants, Food and Environment, Peter Thomson said the consignment was discovered on April 21 this year. Fijian authorities said the ban had been in place since April 28.

"This is a significant risk to New Zealand as it indicates a potential failure of the measures we require to prevent other pests such as fruit flies arriving at the New Zealand border. New Zealand is free of fruit fly," he said.

"As a result, we have temporarily suspended the importation of eggplants from Fiji while the necessary actions are taken. This only affects eggplants."

"MPI and the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) are working closely to resolve this situation.

source: fijitimes.com