Business manager of Potatoes New Zealand, Ron Gall, says the risk of Australian potato crops getting Zebra Chip disease in the event of the current import ban being lifted, is so low it is "absolutely minimal."
He says the Australian Agriculture Department's own scientific assessment accepts there is no risk.
"These are not potatoes for fresh market use or for fresh consumption," Gall said.
"They are fresh potatoes to go to secure facilities for processing into French fries or crisps.
"The [import] protocol requires them to be washed, sprout-inhibited and sealed into containers to go to the processing facilities."
Gall said there was no risk of the potato carrying any insect vector which could transmit any disease, and suppliers and processors would ensure the potatoes did not have the disease.
He says Ausveg, which is lobbying against the ban being lifted, has the opportunity to make a submission against the imports, but that it needed to be based on science.
"We will wait and see what their submission is and will comment on it at that time."
Regarding Ausveg's claims that the livelihood of Australian potato growers was at risk if imports were allowed into the country he said, "the reality is if Australia wants to play in the global market and export, it has to be prepared to import at the same time."
New Zealand had a history in the past of exporting potatoes to Australia for processing in response to inquiries from Australians following adverse events such as droughts or floods. The most recent request was about five years ago, Gall said, which had prompted the New Zealand application to reinstate exports to that country.
"We never expected the market to be there on an annual basis. It is to provide Australian processors with an alternative source of supply should they require it."
