Wellington - New Zealand banned exports of fresh tomatoes and peppers Wednesday after a new disease-causing bacterium was discovered in three commercial hot-house operations.

Officials said the ban was a precaution until more was known about the bacterium, which had never been identified before, but there was no health risk from eating tomatoes or capsicums.

Tim Knox, of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's biosecurity branch, said initial findings suggested the bacterium may be transmitted by a small insect called the tomato/potato psyllid.

Reports said little product was being exported currently and Horticulture New Zealand said it hoped the ban would be lifted before the new season began in October.

The country exports about 34 million New Zealand dollars (about 26.5 million US dollars) worth of peppers a year to Australia, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and Pacific island states. Australia is the main market for more than 7 million New Zealand dollars worth of tomatoes.

Knox said all the markets had been informed about the outbreak. (dpa)