Fruit fly scares off Taiwan

TASMANIAN bi osecurity authorities fear other major trading partners such as China may follow Taiwan’s lead and suspend produce imports following the detection of fruit flies at two Tasmanian sites.

TASMANIAN authorities fear other major trading partners such as China may follow Taiwan’s lead and suspend produce imports following the detection of fruit flies at two Tasmanian sites.

Local authorities were advised by Canberra yesterday morning that Taiwan would suspend Tasmanian fruit imports for three months.

Clarification revealed that the suspension related only to fruit grown in the exclusion zones on Flinders Island and at Spreyton in the North-West.

Six adult male fruit flies have now been trapped — five on Flinders Island and one at Spreyton.

Fruit fly was last found in Tasmania in 2011 when two adult males were caught.

Biosecurity Tasmania general manager Lloyd Klumpp said the notification from Taiwan, which imported $5 million of cherries last year, highlights the importance of the major response enacted to eradicate the pest. Vegetable imports to Taiwan will continue.

The main concern now is that China, which imports $7 million of cherries a year, will also decide to suspend imports for three months.

The state’s fruit fly-free status exempted it from onerous checks at several international markets, Dr Klumpp said.

“Our priority is to continue to implement the measures in place to prevent further movement of the fruit fly, eradicate it from the state and give confidence to our overseas markets that we are again fruit fly free.”

Tasmania respected its international markets and needed to keep them up to date on the fruit fly situation and what was being done so they could make informed decisions.

Fruit Growers Tasmania president and grower Nic Hansen said: “Information we have at the moment is China is standing strong and not implementing a ban and that is on the back of our 100-year tradition of being fruit-fly free.

“If they do implement a ban, it would be a blow.”

Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said a baiting blitz was in progress on the Flinders Island and on 430 properties around Spreyton.

Daily inspections of commercially grown fruit and strict packaging criteria is allowing fruit to be moved outside the 15km radial Spreyton exclusion zone.

“A Taiwanese market closure also occurred in 2011 and this does not represent a long term problem,” Mr Rockliff said.