New Zealand apple growers have hit out against claims a native wheat bug was spread to Europe via apple exports.

Australian growers claim the discovery of the bug in Belgium and Holland could strengthen concerns about the risks posed by New Zealand apple imports.

But Peter Beaven, chief executive of Pipfruit New Zealand said a study has shown the pest has a limited ability to survive cool storage, therefore exonerating the apple exporters.

“We don’t believe for a moment it got there on apples it must have got there on some other commodity that's not cool stored or on the clothing of tourists,” he said.

“I think this is another classic case of the Australian industry screaming from the roof tops about a risk that’s simply non-existent.”

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