While confusion continues in New Zealand over reports gold kiwifruit could be tied up in China's regulatory change that has suspended kiwiberry imports, the country's grower body has emphasized there is nothing to worry about.

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc spokesperson Kate Longman told www.freshfruitportal.com the New Zealand Herald ran its story on the issue after an internal error at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) meant gold kiwifruit were accidentally left off the allowed imports list.

"There's been a lot of concern, but China has not banned imports of gold or green kiwifruit," Longman said.

"People get a bit excited, particularly people who don't like our industry structure," she said.

An MPI spokesperson told www.freshfruitportal.com it will continue to issue phytosanitary certificates for export to China for gold, green and gold-green cross kiwifruit.

"There has been some concern over recent media reports regarding gold kiwifruit exports to China.  We would like to provide clarification," the spokesperson said.

"MPI has amended the China Importing Countries Phytosanitary Requirements document (a guidance document for exporters we publish on our website) to reflect that gold kiwifruit varieties are approved for entry to China (and have long been approved for entry)."

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