The Council of Agriculture will suspend importation of almost all Australian fruit from Jan. 1, according to reports in the Chinese-language media.
The council's Bureau of Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine said that Queensland fruit flies have been listed as a quarantine pest, according to a report in the China Times.
The affected fruit include apples, citrus fruits and cherries, the report said.
The ban applies to all regions of Australia except for the Riverland district in Queensland, which has been declared free of the pest.
Officials said that fruit flies are unique to Australia and affect much of the country's fruit.
If Queensland fruit flies proved to be as adaptable to temperature changes as local fruit flies, then Taiwanese fruit would come under serious threat, the officials were quoted as saying.
They said that unless Australian officials could ensure effective inspection procedures, Taiwan would not continue importing Australian fruit from the affected regions.
Fruit imports from Korea and Japan are also to be suspended starting from February.
The measure is being taken because of the purported risk of fruit moth infestation, an action that will hurt luxury items such as fruit gift boxes.
Fruit flies have the potential to contaminate food with bacteria and other organisms.
The insects can be a problem all year round, but they are especially common during late summer and fall because they are attracted to ripe or fermenting fruit and vegetables.
RSS