MAF is defending criticisms that it did not adequately check New Zealand pollen imports for Psa.

Representatives from New Zealand's bee industry say MAF's decision not to check pollen imports for traces of Psa may have led to its introduction into kiwifruit orchards around the country.

But MAF's Psa response manager, David Yard, says there is no statistical information to suggest that artificial pollination is responsible for the infection.

He says pollen is imported into New Zealand under import health standards.

MAF bases its import health standards on scientific evidence and literature.

'We could find no scientific literature that this Psa bacteria can be found in pollen,” says David.

'So it's like we've been asked to legislate against something that we didn't even know.”

Since the Psa outbreak, MAF has suspended all pollen imports.

David says recent testing has found Psa in pollen.

'Results we are getting are very inconclusive.

'We did take some samples and there was a detection that Psa may be there in low concentrations.”

David says further testing of pollen found there was cross-contamination

MAF is defending criticisms that it did not adequately check New Zealand pollen imports for Psa.

Representatives from New Zealand's bee industry say MAF's decision not to check pollen imports for traces of Psa may have led to its introduction into kiwifruit orchards around the country.

But MAF's Psa response manager, David Yard, says there is no statistical information to suggest that artificial pollination is responsible for the infection.

He says pollen is imported into New Zealand under import health standards.

MAF bases its import health standards on scientific evidence and literature.

'We could find no scientific literature that this Psa bacteria can be found in pollen,” says David.

'So it's like we've been asked to legislate against something that we didn't even know.”

Since the Psa outbreak, MAF has suspended all pollen imports.

David says recent testing has found Psa in pollen.

'Results we are getting are very inconclusive.

'We did take some samples and there was a detection that Psa may be there in low concentrations.”

David says further testing of pollen found there was cross-contamination in the samples.

'We found there were huge amounts of cross contamination at the pollen importers. The pollen may have been contaminated at those premises.”

If MAF does eventually find pollen can carry Psa, import requirements will be amended.

Imports of bud wood for the kiwifruit industry are vigorously tested for Psa and quarantined for six months.

'The reason that is because there is strong scientific evidence to suggest the bacteria can survive in the bud wood.”

in the samples.

'We found there were huge amounts of cross contamination at the pollen importers. The pollen may have been contaminated at those premises.”

If MAF does eventually find pollen can carry Psa, import requirements will be amended.

Imports of bud wood for the kiwifruit industry are vigorously tested for Psa and quarantined for six months.

'The reason that is because there is strong scientific evidence to suggest the bacteria can survive in the bud wood.”