The Australian government will keep New Zealand apple growers waiting for a decision on giving NZ top-fruit access to the Aussie market.
A spokeswoman for Australian trade minister Mark Vaile said the import risk analysis process currently being undertaken will be concluded by the end of the year and promised the issue eventually be resolved, in a bilateral manner.
"We have made it clear to New Zealand that our approach is science based, transparent and in line with WTO rules."
The comments coincided with New Zealand again voicing its concerns at a meeting of the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) sanitary and phytosanitary measures committee - which deals with plant health issues.
Trade minister Phil Goff said in March that if issues raised by New Zealand were not reflected in Australia's final import risk analysis, or if there were undue delays in its release, "referral of the issue to the WTO disputes settlement procedures may be the only option left".
The most recent Australian revised draft import risk analysis, released late last year, accepted in principle that New Zealand apples should be allowed into Australia, but only under strict conditions.