She's apples: Taiwan crisis concludes

Apples
Photo ©iStockphoto.com/
Dorothy Booth-Homen.

A single live codling moth larva found on a New Zealand Fuji apple had the potential to make Friday 13 April a real black Friday for the pipfruit industry. That was the day when MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) was notified that exports of New Zealand apples to Taiwan had been suspended following the detection.

Fortunately, the actions of MAFBNZ's Exports group, pipfruit industry representatives and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) quickly rectified the situation, resulting in the resumption of exports six weeks after the suspension was imposed and minimising the impact on pipfruit growers.

The suspension marked the first notification of a codling moth interception in 20 years of trade with Taiwan, involving some 80 million fruit – not a bad record but an event that the industry and MAFBNZ do not want repeated.

The response to the apples to Taiwan 'crisis' followed an identification, isolation, investigation and improvement plan put into action by a multidisciplinary and experienced team.

MAFBNZ stopped issuing phytosanitary certificates when the suspension notification from Taiwan was received. The orchard from which the codling moth originated and the packhouse/coolstore that packed affected fruit were immediately identified. Other fruit from the same source that was en route to Taiwan was identified and the exporter advised that MAF certification had been withdrawn.

An in-depth investigation followed to determine where the break-down in the apples to Taiwan compliance programme had occurred. The investigation looked at the orchard and the packhouse/coolstore pathway.

Orchard investigation

This investigation focused on the grower's pest management practices, in particular pheromone trapping and pesticide use. Key findings were:

  • Codling moth populations were within normal parameters.
  • A potential window of opportunity for moth egg laying was identified between pesticide applications. The effect of this could not be assessed.
  • A possible window of opportunity of about seven days was identified during which apples may have been unprotected by pesticides. However, pesticide labels give conservative estimates of protection and pesticides were likely to have provided protection during this 'window' period.

Packhouse/coolstore investigation

  • An apparent discrepancy in labelling was clarified and ruled out as an issue in this case.
  • No non-compliances were identified in the affected packhouse/coolstore.

Based on the stage of development of the codling moth larva intercepted in Taiwan, the investigation concluded that the codling infestation must have occurred at the orchard. No definite discrepancies were detected in any area of investigation but improvements were identified.

Initial findings were reported to Taiwan followed by a list of improvements, immediate and longer term changes to be made to the apples to Taiwan compliance programme. (See below for weblink.)

A Taiwanese official visited New Zealand in mid-May to verify that changes made to the Taiwan programme were being met. Taiwan lifted the suspension shortly after this visit. Fruit in coolstore for the duration of the suspension were subject to re-inspection prior to export.

New Zealand has also agreed to review the science behind pest control measures before the start of the next production season. This will determine whether codling moth pheromone trap thresholds are providing an accurate indication of pesticide spray times. The pipfruit industry is also providing growers with more information on trap monitoring and choice of pesticides.

Such a timely resumption of the export of apples to Taiwan has been a huge relief for all involved. The Taiwan pipfruit export market is worth more than $20 million and likely to grow.

MAFBNZ, the pipfruit industry and MFAT worked well together to overcome a hiccup which could have cost New Zealand not only large export earnings but also a reputation for supplying a quality horticultural product.

Changes to the apples to Taiwan compliance programme can be seen at:

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Page last updated: 30 April 2008