The New Zealand Avocado Industry Council and MAF Biosecurity have celebrated that the disease, avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd), is not present in New Zealand. Minister of Agriculture, Biosecurity and Forestry, David Carter, Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges were all at the celebration with the industry council at Turnbull House in Wellington on Thursday night.

Minister of Agriculture, Biosecurity and Forestry David Carter was impressed by the Avocado Industry Council and MAF Biosecurity New Zealand's team work to come up with a new testing regime.

Determining that New Zealand did not have the viroid was a long process that finished earlier this year. MAFBNZ post border director Peter Thomson says five years ago there were no internationally recognised standards for testing for the viroid.
Avocado sunblotch viroid is a type of ‘naked' virus, which is the smallest known self-replicating organism. ASBVd only affects avocado trees. Often an infected tree will not show any symptoms but will remain a carrier of the disease.
'Over 8000 samples were collected and tested,” says Peter.
'We were satisfied the protocol had been observed and the results clearly showed that avocado sunblotch viroid was not present in New Zealand.”

Avocado Industry Council CEO Alan Thorn presented Minister of Agriculture, Biosecurity and Forestry David Carter with a fresh avocado and a bottle of Grove Avocado Oil, both produced in the Bay of Plenty, after the event.

AIC chairman John Schackenberg says the industry is elated with the outcome.
'This breakthrough ensures we maintain access for our avocados to our crown jewel market – Australia,” says John.
Ninety percent of New Zealand avocado exports are currently sent to Australia.
'The global demand for avocados and avocado oil is increasing. Maintaining a consistently high quality of fruit is vitally important for entry into new emerging markets in Asia.”

Avocado Industry Council technical manager Dr Henry Pak (front, second from right) with staff from MAF Biosecurity New Zealand.

The avocado industry currently earns more than $50 million from exports but has a vision of reaching $250 million by 2015.
New Zealand currently grows 5010 hectares of avocados, the majority being in the Bay of Plenty, Northland and Far North regions.