New Zealand scrutinizes fresh blueberry import rules over biosecurity and health risks

A report from the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI) warns that the Ministry for Primary Industries' draft import health standards could allow fresh blueberries from Chile, Mexico, Morocco, Peru and the United States to carry food‑borne pathogens such as Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp. and resistant E. coli. The BSI recommends microscopic inspection or testing of fruit washings and advises that organic blueberries should not be permitted because available controls would not prevent the pathogens.

Blueberries New Zealand chair Trudy O’Halloran said the report underscores “the biosecurity risk to fruit production and exports of new pests and diseases is huge, but the risk to human health is also very real.” Biosecurity New Zealand director Lisa Winthrop responded that the risk assessment is comprehensive and that the proposed standards include “stringent measures to manage these risks, consistent with those applied successfully across other fresh‑fruit import pathways.” Currently only frozen blueberries are allowed into the country.