New Zealand apple growers are holding their breath to see whether their Australian counterparts throw a legal spanner in the works at the last minute.

A final import risk analysis is to be released by the Australian authorities today and if everything goes smoothly, the first New Zealand apples in 90 years could be on their way to Australia later this week.

Four New Zealand pack houses have been approved for export by Australia authorities.

And industry sources have told Country 99TV some of these pack houses have apples ready to air freight to Australia immediately.

However, at the same time, Kiwi growers are crossing their fingers that the Australian apple industry doesn’t file a last minute legal injunction against Kiwi apple imports.

An injunction could delay the first exports by months.

But because the dispute has already been ruled on by the World Trade Organisation on several occasions, it is likely significant costs would be awarded against the Australian industry, if its’ injunction failed.