NZ potatoes could destroy Aus industry: Ausveg

New Zealand's potato industry has been devastated by the disease known as "Zebra Chip", so called for the striped black markings that appear on infected potatoes.

While there are no known health risks, the striped markings cause by "Zebra Chip" prevent infected potatoes from being sold.

“This has the potential to be catastrophic for the Australian potato industry and I must say that I?ve been very surprised at the lack of appreciation for the gravity of this situation by Biosecurity Australia in the discussions we?ve held with them,” Mr Mulcahy said.

The Ministry of Agriculture Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has formally requested renewed market access for fresh potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), for processing under a Quarantine Approved Premise arrangement (QAP), into Australia.

“While Biosecurity Australia says that if these potatoes were to be permitted they would only be admitted under a secure regime, scientists are warning the industry that the risks are just too great to take,” Mr Mulcahy said.

“The facts are we still don't know how the disease reached New Zealand. With due respect to our colleagues in New Zealand, it would be foolish in the extreme for the Australian Government to approve the import of potatoes for processing from New Zealand.”

The "Zebra Chip" disease complex (spread by the tomato-potato psyllid) has caused widespread destruction in New Zealand, and before that in the United States, costing the international potato industry millions of dollars.

Tomato-potato psyllids are found in the USA, parts of Mexico, southern Canada, and now NZ.

It's been reported that the psyllid caused losses of $43 million for New Zealand producers in 2008/09, with the psyllid alone said to be considerably destructive.

But the psyllid can also infect potatoes with Liberibacter, the bacterium which causes "Zebra Chip" in potatoes.