WELLINGTON-- Agreements to protect biosecurity between China and New Zealand are bearing fruit for markets in both countries, New Zealand's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) announced Monday.

Agreements on biosecurity standards were enabling traders to take advantage of New Zealand's free-trade agreement with China, while at the same time keeping New Zealand's unique environment, and flora and fauna free of biosecurity risks, said a statement from the MAF.

The ministry's plant standards team was working with Chinese authorities to put in place import health standards and approve associated quality assurance programs, it said.

An agreement for importation of Chinese pears was signed in March last year, and since May last year, 215 tons of pears and 148 tons of nashi had been brought into New Zealand.

Recent government-level agreements had also paved the way for importation of table grapes and peeled onions from China and for imports of New Zealand apples into China.

Stephen Butcher, MAF's manager of plant imports and exports, said the system of arranging for exports to meet pre-arranged standards had been used between Australia and New Zealand "for decades."

The approach was encouraged in international biosecurity forums such as the International Plant Protection Convention, he said.

Official pre-border assurance was more efficient and effective than just inspecting goods on arrival at the border, so MAF specialists worked in the country of origin to assess export systems, said Butcher.

"We investigate and make sure we understand the whole product pathway and assess risks before signing the agreement. We can then agree on suitable official assurance programs, which are formally signed off," he said.

"When we assess, we look for documented evidence of activities such as spray diaries and training of their inspectors."

The agreement for export of table grapes identified the fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, and the mite, Tetranychus kanzawai, as particular risks. Another fruit fly, Drosiphila suzukii, was an emerging pest that used table grapes as a host.

As part of the official assurance program, the Chinese authority would register all vineyards producing table grapes for export to New Zealand, and the vineyard of origin would be marked on cartons and the phyosanitary certificate, which showed plants were free of pests, to enable trace-back.

Producers would be required to use an integrated pest management program, including pest and disease monitoring, and chemical, biological and cultural control measures.

"The advantage for producers is they understand New Zealand's requirements and can do their best to avoid problems," said Butcher.

"If we find unwanted pests at the border, we take measures to manage biosecurity risks. These measures include fumigation, which can diminish quality of fruit, or possibly sending it back at the importers' cost," he said.

"The agreements provide advantages for everyone along the supply chain."

The MAF is responsible for managing New Zealand's biosecurity, and works at three levels: overseas to stop travelers and importers bringing pests to New Zealand; at the border to identify and eliminate pests that do arrive; and in New Zealand to find, manage or eliminate pests that have established there.