NSW DPI and fruit industry join forces to develop fruit fly plan

NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and the Riverina Biosecurity Committee have today joined forces to develop a long term management strategy for Queensland fruit fly across southern NSW.

NSW DPI Director Plant Biosecurity, Satendra Kumar, said a new management approach has been years in the making and follows unprecedented outbreaks of Queensland fruit fly in the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone.

"Over a number of years, the distribution of Queensland fruit fly in eastern Australia has shifted significantly south to the point where the pest can be considered established in many parts of Victoria and most of NSW," Dr Kumar said.

"The current approach and maintenance of the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone is no longer technically feasible and financially justifiable.

"Following similar changes in Victoria, NSW DPI has signalled plans to deregulate the movement of host fruit and vegetables across parts of NSW.

"While this change brings significant benefits for the fruit industry, it is acknowledged that deregulation will also have drawbacks.

"NSW DPI and Riverina Biosecurity Committee are developing a range of measures to help growers transition to the new arrangement and take on a greater role in managing Queensland fruit fly on their land."

Riverina Biosecurity Committee Chair, Peter Davidson, is supportive of the development of a long term management strategy for Queensland fruit fly.

"It is critical that NSW DPI works closely with industry to help develop a long term strategy. A phase in period will be needed to achieve this," Mr Davidson said.

Under the planned fruit fly management strategy, NSW DPI proposes to:

• Investigate whether remaining funds from the wind-up of the activities of Riverina Citrus can be applied to fruit fly management.
• Install suppression blocks in major production towns for the 2012-2013 season.
• Maintain full surveillance for a period of three months while industry determines what level of surveillance it needs and is able to co-invest in. After this period of time, the trapping intensity will be reduced to a grid aimed primarily to demonstrate freedom from exotic fruit flies, including Mediterranean fruit fly.
• Continue to work with the Commonwealth and other state governments to pursue negotiations with the USA to recognise cold disinfestation as a stand alone treatment and on other market access arrangements, including recognition of winter windows, Areas of Low Pest Prevalence (ALPP) and Pest Free Places of Production (PFPP).
• Provide extension and advisory support to growers of host produce on pre and post-harvest fruit fly control and market access practices.
• Provide regulatory support for market access into sensitive markets such as South Australia.
• Provide technical and administrative support to the functions of the Riverina Biosecurity Committee.
• Support public information campaigns in key local government areas.

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