Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, said growers from Mildura to Swan Hill would welcome the news that fruit no longer has to undergo costly treatment before it is exported to Japan.

Under current requirements, oranges, lemons and mandarins must undergo cold disinfestation treatment once harvested, to eliminate possible fruit flies.

Now Japan has recognised the Sunraysia as fruit fly free, due to the surveillance, trapping and incursion response systems run by the NSW and Victorian departments of primary industries.

Australia exported almost 15,000 tonnes of citrus to Japan last calendar year, worth more than $19 million dollars.

"Under these new export arrangements, oranges, lemons and mandarins will arrive in Japan in better condition and Australian exporters will avoid the considerable expense of the treatment," Mr Burke said.

"Biosecurity Australia has worked closely with the Australian citrus industry and Japan’s quarantine authority to gain this recognition of the area’s fruit fly free status.

"I discussed this issue with my Japanese counterpart during a visit to Japan last year and welcome the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture’s decision.

"After years of minimal water allocations, this will be welcome news for the citrus farmers of the Sunraysia district."

During the visit to Japan last year, Mr Burke was accompanied by citrus growers including from the Murray Valley Citrus Board in the Greater Sunraysia district.