THE Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area, established in 2006 to help protect local horticultural industries from Queensland fruit fly and enhance market opportunities, is to be abolished.
A statement released by Agriculture Victoria said Queensland fruit fly was now established throughout the Victorian and New South Wales portions of Sunraysia.
It said this, combined with the ongoing suspension of the GSPFA for trade purposes, meant there was no longer a justification for continuation of the pest-free area.
As such, the regulation of the GSPFA would be allowed to lapse, and by mid-July the GSPFA would cease.
Agriculture Victoria said the horticulture industry in Sunraysia had already adjusted to the establishment of QFF in production practices and through implementation of end-point treatments such as cool-storage treatment, fumigation, or irradiation to ensure market access.
It said removal of the GSPFA would decrease regulatory and administrative burden on industries and other stakeholders who grow or trade horticultural produce in the region.
Signs and quarantine bins will be removed in the coming months, while there will no longer be restrictions around bringing QFF host produce in or out of the Sunraysia area.
However, the requirements for the movement of fruit to interstate QFF sensitive markets have not changed and consignments will need to meet each states’ importation requirements.
Restrictions in movement of Mediterranean fruit fly host produce, which apply statewide, do not change.
The order declaring a restricted area in north-west Victoria for the control of Queensland fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly (Lindsay Point Order) remains in place to assist South Australia in retaining pest-free area status in the Riverland.
Agriculture Victoria plans to enhance the strength of the exotic fruit fly trapping network this year to ensure that trap locations align to areas of greatest risk of entry.
This is expected to see an increase in trap numbers around major ports and urban areas, with key targets including Mediterranean fruit fly, Jarvis fruit fly and Oriental fruit fly.
Exotic fruit flies are a significant threat to Victoria’s $3 billion horticultural industry, with the potential to impact on production and trade opportunities.
The exotic fruit fly trapping network delivered by Agriculture Victoria aims to safeguard horticultural production and support enhanced trade prospects.
