TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan has suspended imports of South African apples after finding an insect in a shipment.
One codling moth larva was found in a shipment that arrived in Keelung on Oct. 24, the agriculture ministry’s Animal Plant and Health Inspection Agency said in a statement to Taiwan News on Wednesday (Oct. 30). It notified the South African government it must stop apple exports to Taiwan after the discovery.
The inspection agency has asked South Africa to investigate why larvae were in the shipment. It said it would double inspections of South African apples shipped to Taiwan before the larva was discovered.
The agency said that Taiwan imports apples from 11 countries, each subject to strict import and quarantine regulations. It said imports of South African apples were also suspended in 2017 and 2023 when codling moths were discovered in shipments.
The agency said Taiwan resumed importing South African apples after restrictions were lifted later in 2023. Over 6,391 tons of apples have been imported from the country since then, it said.
