Just months after fruit fly restrictions were eased across the State, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) has had to tighten them, when Queensland fruit fly larvae were detected in a shipment from Victoria.
Announcing the move, the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, David Basham said rules around the importation of stone fruit meant that fruit entering South Australia from interstate after 1 April would no longer be accepted.
“It is absolutely unacceptable that fruit fly larvae can find their way into South Australia via interstate commercial shipments,” Mr Basham said.
“The 1 April commencement date is necessary to allow supermarkets and supply chains time to adjust, however, immediate suspensions will apply to any further interstate businesses found exporting fruit fly larvae to South Australia,” he said.
“Interstate farmers will be required to implement treatments such as fumigation or cold treatment before we can be assured it is safe to allow commercial stone fruit consignments to enter the State.
He said South Australians had worked hard over the past two years to help eradicate fruit fly outbreaks so to have larvae found inside commercial consignments from interstate is very frustrating.
Mr Basham said that while Mediterranean fruit fly outbreaks in metropolitan Adelaide and Port Augusta, and three Queensland fruit fly outbreaks in the Riverland were successfully eradicated last month, PIRSA continued to battle fruit fly outbreaks in Ridleyton and the Riverland.
“It’s crucial we do everything we can to protect South Australia from this insidious horticultural pest,” he said.
Restrictions caused by Queensland fruit fly around the Ridleyton area are to remain in place until 22 February and around Pike River and Renmark West in the Riverland until 13 March 2022, as long as there are no further detections.
Further information on fruit fly restrictions can be accessed at this PS News link.
