Kiwifruit from China

We have released a draft report for our risk analysis for fresh kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis and A. deliciosa) fruit for human consumption from China.

Risk analysis:

When we do a risk analysis, we:

• review the science on pests and diseases of concern
• assess and analyse biosecurity risks
• develop proposed risk management measures, if required
• consult the public on the draft report and then review comments
• publish the final report
• verify that the country can meet the recommended risk management measures
• develop import conditions
• publish import conditions in our Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).

About the risk analysis

We initiated this risk analysis because China requested market access for fresh kiwifruit. Learn more about why we carry out risk analyses and our international obligations.

This risk analysis is being conducted as a review of biosecurity import requirements. This is because we conducted a preliminary assessment of the potential pests associated with kiwifruit from China and found that:

• the pests of concern are the same, or of the same pest groups, as those pests that have been assessed previously for kiwifruit or other horticultural goods.
• there are appropriate risk management measures already established for these pests or pest groups.

Draft report

We propose that the importation of commercially produced fresh kiwifruit from China can be permitted subject to a range of biosecurity requirements

Pests

Fourteen pests associated with kiwifruit from China require risk management measures to reduce the biosecurity risk to an acceptable level. These pests are:

• fruit fly: Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis)
• mealybugs: Pacific mealybug (Planococcus minor), citrophilus mealybug (Pseudococcus calceolariae) and American grape mealybug (Pseudococcus maritimus)
• moths: summer fruit tortrix (Adoxophyes orana) and European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana)
• scales: black parlatoria scale (Parlatoria pergandii), European fruit lecanium (Parthenolecanium corni) and mulberry scale (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona)
• spider mites: Hawthorn spider mite (Amphitetranychus viennensis) and spider mite (Eotetranychus kankitus)
• thrips: European flower thrips (Frankliniella intonsa), Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis).

Risk management measures

We propose a range of measures to reduce the risk of these pests arriving in Australia via the fresh kiwifruit pathway. These measures are:

• for Oriental fruit fly
  • pest free areas, pest free places of production or pest free production sites, or
  • fruit treatment considered to be effective against Oriental fruit fly, such as cold treatment or irradiation
• for European grapevine moth
  • pest free areas, pest free places of production or pest free production sites, or
  • pre-export visual inspection and, if detected, remedial action
• for summer fruit tortrix moth, mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites and thrips
  • pre-export visual inspection and, if detected, remedial action

Make a submission

You are invited to:

• read the draft report
• submit your feedback through Have Your Say.

This consultation closes on 25 January 2027.

Have Your Say

We will consider your feedback in preparing the final report.

Download draft report

Announcement

We announced the commencement of this risk analysis on 10 December 2024.

Trade

Australia-China trade

China is an important trading partner for Australia. China is Australia's largest 2-way trading partner in agriculture, fisheries and forestry goods, valued at $25.8 billion in 2025. China is also Australia’s single largest agriculture, fisheries and forestry export market, valued at $18.5 billion in 2025.

Kiwifruit industry in China

China is the largest producer of kiwifruit in the world. In 2023, China produced approximately 3.83 million tonnes of kiwifruit.

Production mainly supplies the domestic market. China exports a small volume of kiwifruit (31,000 tonnes in 2024) mostly to Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

In China, kiwifruit is harvested from late August to early November depending on the variety and growing region. Exports can be extended for several months as the fruit can be cold-stored.

Kiwifruit industry in Australia

Kiwifruit are mainly grown in Victoria, with smaller volumes grown in New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. In 2025, Australia produced 4,224 tonnes of kiwifruit.

Australian-grown kiwifruit are available from March to August.

Australia exports a relatively small amount of kiwifruit (240 tonnes in 2025), mostly to Thailand and Indonesia.

Kiwifruit imports

Australia is a net importer of fresh kiwifruit, typically importing between 20,000 and 26,000 tonnes per year.

Australia currently permits the import of fresh kiwifruit from New Zealand, France, Italy, Japan and the United States of America, provided the biosecurity import conditions are met.

Next steps

Our public consultation will close on 25 January 2027.

After this, we will:

• consider all feedback
• develop and publish a final report.

Your feedback during the consultation period will help inform our final report for kiwifruit from China. We expect to release the final report in the second half of 2027. Please note that this is an indicative timeline and may be subject to change.

After verifying that China can meet the risk management measures recommended in the final report, we will develop import conditions. These will be published on our Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).

Keep informed

Register as a stakeholder

Subscribe to ‘Biosecurity Risk Analysis Plant’ via our online subscription service to receive Biosecurity Advices and other notifications relating to plant biosecurity policy.

Contact us

For more information, email imports@aff.gov.au or phone 1800 900 090 (when prompted select option 1, then option 1).