European nations, worried about strains of new animal and plant infections, are set to meet on Tuesday in Luxembourg.

Germany has been hit by a devastating spate of EColi infections thought to be carried by vegetable produce, which has so far killed 18 people and hospitalised thousands around Europe.

Test results from suspected producers of bean sprouts in northern Germany, and cucumbers from Spain, have failed to identify the origins of the disease.

But several countries have already stopped buying produce from EU nations.

International Traceability Standards spokesperson Dr Hans Mohr says there is panic across Europe as authorities scramble to track the infection back to source.

“Traceability and the ability to trace back product is absolutely vital, and this proves it’s not to be underestimated.

“There is no guarantee at the moment that it is even fresh produce that is the source, and nobody should really be making statements without solid evidence of what the cause is.”

Dr. Mohr says it’s particularly difficult to monitor the spread of EColi as it can lay dormant for as long as a week before symptoms express themselves.

Horticulture New Zealand spokesperson Leigh Catley says New Zealand may benefit from increased demand for produce from outside the EU, but not in the short term.

“We just simply don’t export a great amount of fresh product there, because it’s just such a long way away!

“Whether there is an opportunity for us to ‘cash in’ certainly isn’t the case either, because there are issues about access, and we have a robust supply of vegetables.

“Once our product has gone to Australia and Asia, there’s not much left over!”

Horticulture New Zealand says while our imports from the EU are negligible, they are keeping a close eye on the situation.

On top of the EColi scare, a cattle superbug resistant to antibiotics in Britain, and a Tasmanian sheep disease are also worrying biosecurity authorities here.