China bans canola imports from Australia

China has banned the importing of Australia's canola due to the presence of blackleg fungus.

Currently, similar bans exist for canola from both Europe and Canada.

The presence of blackleg, or Leptosphaeria maculans, was noticed in shipments of Australian canola a month prior to the detections in Canadian canola.

China has claimed that the blackleg fungus of imported canola is more virulent than their strain domestically.

Meanwhile, traders said the Chinese bans have limited the marketing options for Australian and Canadian canola and has pushed prices lower.