A few months after Indonesia placed import restrictions on U.S. apples as the industry was marketing its biggest crop in history, the South East Asian nation has restored trade conditions.

Indonesian authorities implemented a ban on some apples originating from California in January, following a positive listeria tests at Bidart Brothers's packing plant.

A report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service said the Indonesian Agricultural Quarantine Agency (IAQA) had confirmed in writing that "the export state of U.S. apples is again recognized under the terms of our fresh foods of plant origin (FFPO) protocol."

"The letter, received on April 21, concludes the trade disturbances for U.S. origin apples following the recall of apples due to listeria," the report said.

"As a result, U.S. apple shipments to Indonesia can proceed, and will be inspected following the same terms as were followed prior to the listeria outbreak. Laboratory testing at the destination port will no longer be required, except when used for normal surveillance procedures.

"A health certificate is now required in addition to the standard phytosanitary certificate and prior notice. The health certificate is issued by the exporter and signed by a notary public."

The listeria outbreak has caused three deaths and led to 32 people getting sick across 11 states, with two strains that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed are identical to those found at the Bidart facility.

After Malaysia raised its concerns, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam and then Indonesia followed suit with their own respective bans on specific apples of certain origins within the U.S.

The report added the IAQA had reiterated its interest in completing the FFPO food safety system recognition renewal as soon as possible.

"Post recommends that the FFPO recognition trip go ahead as soon as possible. As soon as the recognition trip is complete, Post expects that IAQA will renew U.S. FFPO food safety system recognition until 2018," it said.

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