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Tasmanian Biosecurity Advisories

Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Latest Advisories

Subscribing to get DPIPWE’s Biosecurity Advisories is the best way you can keep yourself up-to-date and fully informed about Tasmanian biosecurity issues. Our Advisories cover topics such as changes or proposed changes to Tasmania’s import regulations, animal health and welfare, plant health, forthcoming regulation reviews and opportunities for public comment, new or emerging pest/disease risks and a range of other matters related to Tasmania’s biosecurity.


202 advisories found.
 
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Biosecurity Advisory 13/2019 – ​ Applications for Small Grants under the Weeds Action Fund are now open

The Tasmanian Government Weeds Action Fund (WAF) is a ground-breaking fund with a total budget of $5 million over five years to tackle weeds that are impacting on valuable agricultural and environmental assets.

This will ensure we can step up the fight against significant agricultural and environmental weeds, helping farmers, land managers and the community in general to reduce the cost and impact weeds cause.

It has been recently estimated that weeds cost Australian agriculture almost $5 billion annually, including control costs and loss of production.

The funds are to be invested with farmers, Landcare and other community organisations to tackle high priority weeds impacting valuable agricultural and environmental assets.  Weed management is a shared responsibility and the fund aims to support co-investment to deliver practical on-ground works.

Funding of $140,000 for small grants under Stage 1 of the WAF (‘Small Grants’ program) are now open now until 31 July 2019. 
 
Grant eligibility guidelines, assessment criteria and instructions on how to apply can be found on the DPIPWE website at www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/invasive-species/weeds/weeds-action-fund-small-grants   

A further round of grants with updated guidelines will be released in late 2019.

(14/6/2019)
Categories: Cropping; Freshwater pests; Gene technology; Horticulture; Invasive Species; Livestock; Marine pests; Natural environment; Plant diseases; Pasture; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds; Timber imports; Wildlife;

Biosecurity Advisory 12/2019 – Amendments to Import Requirement (IR)10: Grape Phylloxera – Hosts and Vectors, & IR46: Tomato Potato Psyllid – Hosts and Vectors

​On 28 May 2019, Biosecurity Tasmania declared by public notice changes to Import Requirements 10 and 46 of the Plant Biosecurity Manual Tasmania however; those regulatory changes do not come into effect until 27 July 2019. The changes have been brought into regulation to align with similar changes in regulation for these pests by all other States and Territories.


Import Requirement 10 – Grape Phylloxera – Hosts and Vectors
Import conditions relating to the entry of grapevine cuttings and rootlings originating from a Phylloxera Exclusion Zone (PEZ) or Phylloxera Risk Zone (PRZ) will change on 27 July 2019. Cutting material and rootlings will no longer be permitted entry from PRZ’s. For plant material originating from PEZ’s, they now must be hot water treated, unless the cuttings or rootlings originate from a State or Territory holding a current Whole-of-State Pest Area Freedom Certificate, for freedom from grape phylloxera, in which case they are exempt from the specified treatment conditions.


Import Requirement 46 – Tomato Potato Psyllid – Hosts and Vectors
From 27 July 2019, import conditions will no longer be imposed on seed and ware potatoes for tomato potato psyllid. Clean seed and ware potatoes without green material are not a host of tomato potato psyllid. Even though tomato potato psyllid vectors zebra chip (Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum), extensive field surveys in Western Australia indicate this serious disease of potatoes is not present despite presence of tomato potato psyllid.

Other States and Territories have similarly relaxed entry conditions for seed and ware potatoes with respect to the risks posed by tomato potato psyllid as a result of the Western Australian field survey results.

The amended versions of IR10 & IR46 are available here https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/biosecurity/importing-plants/plant-import-requirement-changes

(13/6/2019)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Invasive Species; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds;

Biosecurity Advisory 11/2019 - Notice of public consultation meetings for the Independent Review of the Queensland Fruit Fly Response

The 2018-2019 Queensland fruit fly (QFF) response was the largest biosecurity response in Tasmania’s history. 

An Independent Review into the Tasmanian QFF incursion and response is currently underway.  The aim of the Review is to consider the lessons learnt to ensure that Tasmania is best placed to manage the risk which QFF poses to our horticultural industries.

As the next stage in the review process, a series of public consultation meetings with the Independent Reviewer have been scheduled as follows:
  • FLINDERS ISLAND – Furneaux Arts and Entertainment Centre (Whitemark), Monday 1 July 2019 (5:30-7:30pm).
  • DEVONPORT – Paranaple Arts Centre – Aberdeen Room (145 Rooke St, Devonport), Tuesday 2 July 2019 (5:30-7:30pm).
  • GEORGE TOWN – George Town Community Centre (39-43 Friend St, George Town), Wednesday 3 July 2019 (5:30-7:30pm).
  • HUONVILLE – Huonville Library – Peach & Plum Room (1 Skinner Drive, Huonville), Thursday 4 July 2019 (5:30-7:30pm).
These meetings are open to all members of industry and the general public.  

Please RSVP by 28 June 2019, indicating your intended venue, by emailing: Fruit.Fly.Consultation@dpipwe.tas.gov.au ​


(11/6/2019)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Invasive Species; Livestock; Natural environment; Pasture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Wildlife;

Biosecurity Advisory 10/2019 – Amendments to Import Requirement 11: Onion Smut and Iris Yellow Spot Tospovirus (IYSV) - Hosts and Vectors

​Amendments to Import Requirement (IR) 11 have come into immediate effect from midnight on Tuesday 28 May 2019, removing import conditions specific to onion smut (whilst still retaining import conditions for Iris Yellow Spot Tospovirus (IYSV).

The disease onion smut (Urocystis cepulae) has been formally reported by the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR),  to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat, as no longer being present in Australia. The report was made on 28 May 2019 (https://www.ippc.int/en/countries/australia/pestreports/).

As onion smut is now reported absent from Australia, Biosecurity Tasmania has revoked onion smut (Urocystis cepulae) from being a List A Regulated Quarantine Pest of concern, to a Non-Quarantine Pest on 28 May 2019.

Further, Biosecurity Tasmania has immediately amended the existing import regulatory conditions of IR11 to both:

  1. Recognise the delisting of the disease as a quarantine pest of concern by removing any reference to it in IR11; and
  2. Remove any impositions in trade of Allium species (onions, garlic, chives, shallots, etc) that applied to this disease.

Import conditions remain in place for preventing the entry of the serious viral pathogen, Iris Yellow Spot Virus (IYSV), which could have a very damaging impact on the onion industry in Tasmania if introduced.

The amended version of IR11 is available here (https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/biosecurity/importing-plants/plant-import-requirement-changes )

For more biosecurity information visit the website at: www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/biosecurity or contact Biosecurity Tasmania on 03 6165 3777 or email: Biosecurity.Tasmania@dpipwe,tas.gov.au​

(7/6/2019)
Categories: Cropping; Gene technology; Horticulture; Natural environment; Pasture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds;

Biosecurity Advisory 9/2019 - Queensland fruit fly Control Area and Infected Area restrictions on Flinders Island have been lifted

​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 at 12:01am, 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 all Control Area restrictions have been lifted for the State.

Biosecurity Tasmania would like to once again thank the Flinders Island community for their ongoing support, patience and assistance with the fruit fly response.  Since the initial detection of fruit fly on the Island in early 2018 our aim has been to eradicate this pest.  We are very pleased to report that these efforts have been successful.

Biosecurity Tasmania will continue with fruit fly monitoring and reporting activities, which includes regular checking of the permanent fruit fly trap network across the State.

While the northern Control Area and Furneaux Group of Islands have regained their Pest Free Area Status, all Tasmanians are encouraged to remain aware of the risk of QFF and to be on the lookout for any signs of fruit fly and report any suspect produce to Biosecurity Tasmania on 03 6165 3774.

Please remember that everyone must continue to obey Tasmania’s strict rules and regulations regarding not bringing fruit fly host produce into the State from mainland Australia.  Fines may apply. Commercial shipments of fruit and vegetables are permitted only if they comply with special certifications from the state of origin and where required, appropriate treatments to manage risk of QFF entry.

Further information is available on the website: www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/fruitfly

(1/4/2019)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Invasive Species; Natural environment; Pasture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds; Wildlife; Gene technology;

Biosecurity Advisory 8/2019 - Independent review of the Queensland Fruit Fly response has now commenced

The 2018-2019 Queensland fruit fly (QFF) response was the largest biosecurity response in Tasmania’s history. 

An Independent Review into the Tasmanian QFF incursion and response has now commenced.  The aim of the Review is to consider the lessons learnt to ensure that Tasmania is best placed to manage the risk which QFF poses to our horticultural industries.

Written submissions for the Review can now be lodged until 31 May 2019 to Fruit.Fly.Review@dpipwe.tas.gov.au

 Public meetings will be held in June/July 2019, with the final report to be finalised by year end.  

For more information about the Review and for further instructions on how to make a submission please visit: https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/about-biosecurity-tasmania/independent-review-of-the-queensland-fruit-fly-response​​

(18/3/2019)
Categories: Cropping; Gene technology; Horticulture; Invasive Species; Natural environment; Pasture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds;

Biosecurity Advisory 6/2019 - Changes to import requirements for fruit fly host produce fumigated with methyl bromide

​Changes to import requirement for fruit fly host produce fumigated with methyl bromide (IR2)

In response to recent evidence of fumigation failures in fruit fly host produce from Victoria, Biosecurity Tasmania have made some significant amendments to Import Requirement 2 – Fruit Fly Host Produce – Disinfestation with Methyl Bromide.  The amendments were made in consultation with Agriculture Victoria who have also made Tasmania-specific amendments to the Victorian Interstate Certification Assurance arrangement ICA-04 – Fumigation for Quarantine operational procedure.


The amendments to IR2 are:
1.    Improved specifications regarding extensive fruit core temperature checking throughout pallets of produce prior to fumigation to ensure that fruit core temperature is consistently at or above 17°C;
2.    A new requirement to maintain an ambient air temperature of 17°C in the fumigation chamber throughout the two hour fumigation; and
3.    A new requirement for pre-treatment 600 unit inspections for all mangoes and stone fruit to verify that the produce is free from live fruit fly larvae prior to fumigation occurring.

The amended IR2 took effect from 12:01am on Friday 1 March 2019. With these changes in place, Biosecurity Tasmania will again accept fruit fly host produce fumigated by accredited businesses under ICA-04.
It is likely that the amended IR2 will remain in place until a national re-write of ICA-04 occurs. However, should further larval detections be made, Biosecurity Tasmania will take further actions as necessary.
Biosecurity Tasmania will also continue to conduct increased inspections of high risk fruit fly host produce entering the State.

The amended IR2 can be found here

(1/3/2019)
Categories: Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation;

Biosecurity Advisory 5/2019 - Recent detections of Brown marmorated stink bug in Victoria

Recent detections of Browm marmorated stink bug in Victoria.

Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) (Halyomorpha halys) has recently been found in Melbourne's South East. Agriculture Victoria are responding to these detections. Detections have also occurred at major shipping ports across Australia in recent times.

BMSB is a significant agricultural pest with potential to attack over 300 plant hosts. It is also a nuisance pest, that shelters in large numbers inside homes, other buildings, vehicles, machinery and sheds. It produces a very unpleasant odour when disturbed or squashed.

Whilst BMSB has not been detected in Tasmania, Biosecurity Tasmania is conducting general and targeted surveillance for this exotic pest on imported goods, shipping containers and agricultural machinery and on potential host plants. This includes inspection of cargo, as well as insect trapping and surveillance of likely pathways under the National Plant Health Surveillance Program.

If you think you may have found a brown marmorated stink bug, please call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881

Further information about BMSB can be found in the Brown marmorated stink bug factsheet

(18/2/2019)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Invasive Species; Plant pests;

Biosecurity Advisory 4/2019: Tasmania’s final draft of the Biosecurity Bill 2019 is now available for public comment.

​The final draft of Tasmania’s Biosecurity Bill 2019 is now available for public comment. 

The draft Biosecurity Bill provides a simpler and more effective legal framework for the management of disease, weeds and vermin, imports of plant and animal products, and biosecurity emergencies. 

The new draft Bill will facilitate the sharing of responsibility between Government, industry and the community for biosecurity management. It will retain many of the elements of Tasmania’s existing biosecurity system, but in a modernised and consolidated form.

A draft of the Bill has been provided to key stakeholders and has been published on DPIPWE’s website. For more information, go to: https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/about-biosecurity-tasmania/biosecurity-legislation-review/draft-biosecurity-bill​​

Feedback on the final exposure draft of the Bill can be emailed by 22 February 2019 to biosecuritybill@dpipwe.tas.gov.au​

(31/1/2019)
Categories: Wildlife; Timber imports; Seeds; Policy and Legislation; Plant pests; Plant diseases; Pasture; Natural environment; Marine pests; Livestock; Invasive Species; Horticulture; Gene technology; Freshwater pests; Cropping;

Biosecurity Advisory 3/2019 - Queensland fruit fly Control Area and Infected Area restrictions in northern Tasmania have been lifted

​The Queensland fruit fly (QFF) Control Area and Infected Area restrictions in northern Tasmania have been lifted. The restrictions were put in place in early 2018 following the discovery of QFF in Tasmania.

Northern Tasmania Control Area restrictions lifted

Control Area restrictions were officially lifted at 12.01 am, Wednesday 9 January 2019. This means that normal movement of fruit fly host produce has resumed. 

The valuable local and domestic trade has reopened. Biosecurity Tasmania are working closely with the Australian Government to finalise the technical information each of our trading partners need for international markets to reopen. 

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

Restrictions remain for Furneaux Group of Islands​

A single adult male Queensland fruit fly was detected at Lady Barron on Flinders Island during the ongoing surveillance program undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) late last year

This recent detection of fruit fly has resulted in the continuation of the Control Area restrictions on the Furneaux Group of Islands and the Infected Area restrictions at Lady Barron, until March 2019 - pending no further detections.

The Infected Area restrictions at Trousers Point/Loccota and Badger Corner on Flinders Island have been lifted.

Everyone must continue to obey Tasmania’s strict rules and regulations about not bringing fruit fly host produce into the State. Fines may apply. 

Queensland fruit fly remains an ongoing threat. To retain Tasmania’s Pest Free Area status, everyone is asked to remain on the lookout for any signs of fruit fly and report any suspect produce to Biosecurity Tasmania on 03 6165 3774. ​

Further information is availabvble on the website at: www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/fruitfly​

(9/1/2019)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Natural environment; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds; Plant diseases; Gene technology; Invasive Species; Pasture;

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