NEW Zealand has been accused of hypocrisy over its export policy.
Having spent the past century arguing Australia shouldn't use quarantine to keep Kiwi apples out, NZ is using quarantine to lock out Australian honey.
In 2010, NZ successfully argued to the World Trade Organisation that Australia was using quarantine as a trade barrier.
But Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed to The Weekly Times that NZ's Department of Agriculture is continuing a two-year suspension of Australian honey while it "conducts a program of surveillance of risks posed by several organisms which may have potential impact on the New Zealand bee industry".
Pure Peninsula Honey owner John Winkles labelled the risks a "fake reason". "They're playing the same game we played with the apples," Mr Winkles said.
"We have the same diseases as them, plus they have one more - the varroa mite."
Liberal MP for Murray, Sharman Stone, said NZ had "one rule for the goose and another for the gander". "While NZ refuses to allow our honey into their country, they happily export their apples into Australia," he said.
"It's so hypocritical. Australia can't genuinely stop a disease on fresh apples but have to tolerate (a suspension on honey exports)."
Dr Stone conceded NZ does not have the disease foulbrood, but said Western Australia was free of the disease and NZ was not taking West Australian honey.
One of the first shipments of Kiwi apples intended for Australia was stopped when Australian inspectors found it contained the pest bug apple leaf curling midge.
