Taiwan has lifted a four-month ban on the import of US apples, which was imposed after moth larvae had been found in several shipments last year, according to its Council of Agriculture said.

The island introduced the ban in December after finding the codling moth larvae in a shipment from Oregon, but codling moths were detected in two previous shipments from Washington and California.

Under the terms of a trade agreement - reached after US apples were briefly banned in late 2002 when similar larvae were found - a third incident of codling moths is grounds for closing the Taiwanese border to US apples.

Last month, a Taiwanese team inspected procedures at orchards and packaging installations in the US, and returned satisfied that imports into Taiwan could safely resume, the Council of Agriculture said.

Before the ban, more than half the apples on sale in Taiwan were imported from the United States. Chile, New Zealand and Japan are also important suppliers.