The National Management Group (NMG) met on 30 September 2024 to ensure situational awareness and consider additional national support in managing the evolving tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) incursion in South Australia.
National diagnostic capacity and resourcing support will continue to be a national priority in controlling the virus while the technical and economic analyses to support eradication attempts are finalised.
Additional testing on imported seed linked to the affected businesses has subsequently tested positive to ToBRFV and is suspected to be the source of the incursion. In response to these diagnostic results, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has suspended the acceptance of seed testing results issued by any laboratory in the Republic of Türkiye for any seed for sowing imports into Australia.
Some domestic and international markets have restricted the movement of tomato, capsicum, and chilli fruit and any part of these plants, as well as associated packaging and containers into their jurisdictions. Protocols to support the re-establishment of interstate trade are being developed. If you are travelling with or moving fresh produce or plant material, contact the local department responsible for agriculture to check your requirements.
If you suspect the presence of ToBRFV, contact the national Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881. Further information on current activities and requirements is available via pir.sa.gov.au. You can find out more on how we respond to plant pest and disease incidents at outbreak.gov.au.