Some 310 species of exotic insects in more than 3,100 different fruit or crop imports were detected at ports in Shenzhen during the first eight months of this year, a local Imports and Exports Quarantine and Inspection Administration (IEQIA) source has revealed.

The interception of harmful foreign insects in south China's Guangdong Province has been on the rise over the past couple of years.

According to Wu Jiyun, sector director of the Plant Quarantine and Inspection Department at Shenzhen's IEQIA, most of the smuggled fruit and exotic invaders originate from Australia and South Africa. Fruit from these areas is currently forbidden to enter the Chinese market.

But only two weeks ago, employees from IEQIA captured hundreds of boxes of Australian oranges, which were being transported in a container with oranges that are able to enter China.

Another 1,200 boxes of oranges from South Africa were discovered about the same time, which were mixed with declared New Zealand varieties.

"Driven by grabbing more profits, fruit dealers sometimes act as smugglers," said another employee at Shenzhen's IEQIA branch, who declined to be named.

Most of the Southeast Asian countries are able to export to the Chinese mainland. Their fruit is similar to that in Guangdong.

Therefore, from a smuggler's point of view, fruit from Australia and South Africa offers a fresh taste and higher profits.

Wu told China Daily the recent illegal importation of fruit from Australia came via Hong Kong ports, which is often the norm.

According to Zeng Ling, professor with the South China Agriculture University, the spread of an insect known as the vegetable leaf-miner in Guangdong and Hainan in 1994 caused economic losses of 1.5 billion yuan (US$180 million).

However, the Mediterranean fruit fly is an even bigger threat. Known to be the "No 1 fruit killer," it can damage about 290 different kinds of fruit, said Wu.

"Fortunately, it has not been found at home," he added.

Despite the ban, Australian oranges can be very easily found in many supermarkets.

"We are only in charge of the ports and few consumers know the harm they can do," Wu said.

In 2002, 48 exotic species in 2,230 imports were seized in Shenzhen ports, more than a 20 percent increase compared to the previous 12 months.

(China Daily September 1, 2003)