Controlling Fruit Fly

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Biosecurity Tasmania undertakes a range of measures to protect Tasmania's agricultural industries, economy, and environment from the damaging effects of fruit fly.

 

Biosecurity meas​​ures

Biosecurity Tasmania's fruit fly surveillance program comprises a network of around 1,000 fruit fly traps at various risk points, from Dover in the south to the Bass Strait Islands in the north. This permanent surveillance network is required to prove that Tasmania is fruit fly free, and to give Biosecurity Tasmania an early warning of a potential fruit fly incursion.

There are also legal restrictions on people bringing fruit and vegetables into Tasmania​. In short, people are not permitted to bring fruit or vegetables with them when they come to Tasmania. This applies to all visitors and to Tasmanian residents returning to the State.

Biosecurity Tasmania ensures everyone coming into the State is fully aware that they may not bring fruit and vegetables with them. Biosecurity Tasmania also conducts checks of passengers, luggage, freight and mail at the border, and may prosecute those individuals who fail to comply.​

Commercial shipments of fruit and vegetables are permitted only if they comply with Biosecurity Tasmania's strict biosecurity requirements (see Plant Biosecurity Manual for import requirements). All fruit and vegetables require special certification from the state of origin. Most imported fruit is subject to appropriate treatments to manage risk of fruit fly entry.

Import requirements apply to all imported host produce, regardless of whether it is grown in an orchard, small acreage or home garden. In fruit fly affected areas on the mainland, fruit fly populations are generally a lot higher in urban home gardens and small blocks than in outlying orchards, where pest control programs are routinely employed. 

A list of common fruit fly host p​roduce is also available.

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All restrictions now lifted in Tasmania

​The Queensland fruit fly (QFF) Control Area restrictions for the Furneaux Group of Islands and Infected Area restrictions at Lady Barron on Flinders Island have been lifted.

Restrictions were officially lifted on Saturday 30 March 2019. This means that normal movement of fruit fly host produce for Flinders Island can now resume.

Following the earlier lifting of restrictions for northern Tasmania on 9 January 2019, the lifting of restrictions on Flinders Island now means that the whole of Tasmania has returned to its previous Pest Free Area Status.

Biosecurity Tasmania will now return to normal fruit fly monitoring and reporting activities, which includes regular checking of the permanent trapping grid across the State as a general surveillance tool.

What you can do to​​​ help prevent future incursions of fruit fly


 
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Contact

Fruit Fly Hotline
Report any suspected fruit fly to Biosecurity Tasmania
Phone: (03) 6165 3774

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