The nine commodities are apples, apricots, avocados, capsicums, cherries, kiwifruit, persimmons, strawberries and tomatoes.

"The agreement of the new import protocols is a positive step forward in improving consistency and certainty of these exports to Thailand," said Tim Knox, Director Market Access at MPI. "Thailand is an important market for New Zealand producers. In 2014 alone the combined value of these nine horticultural exports to Thailand was around NZD$50 million."

The import protocols mark the culmination of more than two years of work between MPI and the Thailand Department of Agriculture.

"Implementing the import protocols provides the platform to further grow this market for New Zealand," Knox said.

MPI noted that it has been working with the New Zealand horticulture industry to transition to the import protocols, which came into effect on 26 November.