RI eases NZ fruit imports

RI eases NZ fruit imports

WELLINGTON (Dow Jones): Indonesia has lifted restrictions on imports of New Zealand kiwifruit and other fresh fruit products, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said Wednesday.

Indonesia had required imports of New Zealand fruit to be refrigerated since 1996 when authorities discovered two Mediterranean fruit flies in Auckland.

Sutton said Indonesia, which is New Zealand's 13th largest trading partner, agreed to lift the refrigeration requirement after talks in Christchurch in June.

New Zealand regained its status as a fruit fly free country after implementing a detection and eradication program, he said.

"This will reduce costs for New Zealand fruit exporters and brings Indonesia in line with New Zealand's other trading partners," Sutton said.

Indonesia imported NZ$400,000 of New Zealand kiwifruit in the year to March 31, and its total annual imports of New Zealand goods are worth about NZ$438 million.