Several of New Zealand's largest plant importers and distributors have raised concerns that government regulations and quarantine fees are making it too costly to introduce new varieties for trial and development. They warn that this is causing New Zealand to fall behind international competitors in offering fruit varieties for Asian markets.
John Morton, GM of the NZ Fruit Tree Company, said efforts to bring in new varieties have struggled since a compliance issue at a Washington quarantine facility in 2018. "We lost access there through Washington. Years ticked by after that through COVID, and since then, it has become a whole lot more expensive and slower," he said.
Importer Andy McGrath outlined rising costs, noting that in the late 1980s, it was about US$500 per plant and took six months. By 2012, costs were US$15,000–20,000, and by 2020, US$50,000–60,000 with 19 months of quarantine. Today, he estimates it costs US$200,000 and at least two and a half years, with no guarantee of success. He said Australia is now faster and cheaper.
Paul Paynter, GM of the Yummy Fruit Company, added that high risk aversion and very high quarantine fees make the payback period on new varieties commercially unfeasible. He said a red-fleshed apple could be grown commercially after one year's quarantine in Australia, while New Zealand requires three years offshore and another year locally.
McGrath noted that quarantine costs can exceed US$5,000 per month, and that New Zealand refuses to accept material from high-quality certified offshore facilities. He also criticised outdated testing methods. "How is it we only use three tests [for biosecurity risks] here of the 28 available in France?" he asked.
Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said reforms are underway to address these issues. He stated that the aim is to provide safe and efficient access to new plant material while protecting against harmful pests and diseases. Workshops have been held with industry, and six overseas facilities are recognised as equivalent, with agreements being developed on a case-by-case basis.
On quarantine fees, Anderson said they are based on cost recovery, but noted that the Ministry for Primary Industries has a differentiated fee structure subsidised by the Crown by 25–50%. He added that a work programme is exploring the use of artificial intelligence to speed up import standards without compromising biosecurity.
He acknowledged industry concerns but restated that reform is focused on balancing access to plant genetics with biosecurity protection.
Source: Farmers Weekly