Fly-zone apricots seized at market

FRUIT allegedly grown in the Spreyton fruit fly exclusion zone was confiscated from a market stallholder in the state’s North-West at the weekend.

The man was selling apricots at the Wynyard Foreshore Market when officers swooped yesterday, authorities said.

A Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment spokesman said authorised officers seized between 30 and 40 kilograms of fruit fly host fruit being offered for sale at the market.

“The host fruit was from a location inside the 15km Spreyton Control Area,” the department said.

“The fruit was secured and then taken back to biosecurity facilities at Stony Rise for appropriate disposal.”

As of this weekend, authorised Biosecurity Tasmania officers have been conducting inspections of markets and roadside fruit stalls.

Adult fruit flies, a list-A pest in Tasmania, were trapped this month at Flinders Island and the control zone established at Spreyton.

Taiwan has suspended fruit imports from the affected areas.

Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the Fed- eral Government had passed on advice from international importers that restrictions needed to be made tighter.

Tasmania relies on its fruitfly-free status for access premium markets in Japan, Korea, US, China and Taiwan.

Biosecurity Tasmania staff have been spraying and setting up traps at more than 400 properties.

Fruit leaving the control zone must either be cold sterilised or fumigated.

It can be sold interstate under permit.

Fruit fly host fruit cannot be moved from outside of the control area.

“These restrictions are in place to reduce the risk of fruit fly being transported outside the Spreyton Control Area,” the department said.

“Biosecurity Tasmania will continue to provide public information to spread awareness about fruit fly and to explain why the protocols and measures currently in place are necessary.”

Updates and information are provided on the Biosecurity Tasmania Facebook page and fact sheets and information are available on the DPIPWE website, including a full list of host fruits and vegetables.

For updates got to: dpipwe.tas.gov.au/fruitfly