South Australian Agriculture Minister Michael O'Brien says the decision taken by Woolworths and Coles not to stock New Zealand apples is 'commendable', website Adelaidenow.com.au reported.

The South Australian Government will have quarantine zones in place in the next six weeks to protect the state's orchards from any potential fireblight outbreak from New Zealand fruit, the story reported.

The country's two largest retailers have said they don't plan to sell New Zealand apples, while independent grocer Foodland and the Adelaide Central Market 'refused' to stock the fruit.

O'Brien told the website he did not expect New Zealand industry or the World Trade Organization (WTO) to challenge the quarantine decision.

"This is specifically to protect our apple and pear orchards - It's not in any way to impact on trade. This has got to be seen very clearly as not falling foul of any World Trade Organisation guidelines," he was quoted as saying.

"We believe strictly confining it to our apple and pear growing areas, closely aligning it to the outer boundaries of our orchards, will do the job."

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