Vietnam plans to cease the import of 38 kinds of fruits from Australiafrom 2015, the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development announced on December 17.

The department's decision follows the fruit fly epidemic that has affected fruit production in Australia.

Headof the department Nguyen Xuan Hong told the Vietnam Plus news websitethat though fruit flies do not cause serious harm to human health, thefruits could possibly spread the outbreak. Thus, it became necessary tosuspend the import of Australian fruits to protect the country from theepidemic.

Hong added that customs officers are now required tocarefully check all batches of Australian fruits reaching Vietnam toensure that they are safe for customers.

Hong said the import offruits will be resumed as soon as Australia announces that the countryis free from the fruit fly epidemic, and the imported fruits meetVietnam's quarantine standards.

Statistics show that in the firstten months of 2014, Vietnam imported 2,000 tonnes of Australian fruits,most of them being apples, pears and oranges, besides grapes andcherries.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation,fruit flies cost 300 million AUD (245.2 million USD) a year in terms ofloss of export markets.-VNA