The government of the Australian state of Tasmania has said it will standby its decision to not allow apple imports from New Zealand.
The island state has defied the federal governments decision to allow apple imports from New Zealand, which had been banned in Australia since 1921 due to concerns over the disease fire blight. The ban was overturned last year, however, when the World Trade Organisation ruled it was in breach of international trade regulations.
According a report by the ABC, the federal government fears Tasmania’s stance could jeopardise trade relations with New Zealand and has urged it to fall into line with the rest of the country.
Primary Industries minister Bryan Green told the news source the state would persist with its ban.
'There would have to be some sort of a court challenge but we are not going to initiate that obviously. We want to maintain the barrier,' he said.
The minister said the Tasmanian market was too small for large importers to concern themselves with.
