Tonga bans NZ fruits imports by airline passengers [1]
Thursday, March 12, 2015 - 18:25
A ban on airline passengers importing fruit from Auckland, New Zealand to Tonga remains enforced, according to Dr Viliami Kami, the director of the Quarantine and Quality Management Division of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Viliami confirmed yesterday, 11 March that following the discovey of fruit flies in Grey Lynn, Auckland, his ministry on 27 February introduced stricter measures on the importation of New Zealand fruits to Tonga for commercial purposes and banned passengers who are boarding flights in Auckland from bringing any fruits to Tonga.
Tonga imports tonnes of fruits, such as oranges, apples, peaches, grapes, pears from New Zealand annually.
Viliami said in the past it was possible for Tongan bound passengers to buy fruits in Auckland and bring them to Tonga.
Media reports from Auckland this week state that more fruit flies larvae had been found in Grey Lynn, Auckland.