Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

Latest Advisories

Subscribing to get Biosecurity Tasmania 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.

450 advisories found.

Biosecurity Advisory 20/2025 - Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) - National Move to Management

Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) was first detected in South Australia (SA) in August 2024, and subsequently in Victoria in January 2025. Eradication efforts have been underway in SA and Victoria under a nationally agreed and cost shared response plan developed under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed. On 29 May 2025, the National Management Group (NMG) agreed, based on the advice of the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP), that it was no longer technically feasible to eradicate ToBRFV from Australia.

This decision was based on a range of factors, including:

evidence of repeated introductions of ToBRFV via the seed pathway
challenges to find all sites where it may be present in Australia, and
challenges in detecting the virus at the low levels of infection or in very young plants.

The eradication response is now moving to an interim planning phase to allow industry and government parties to work together to determine the best course of action. During this interim phase, biosecurity restrictions will remain on the infected properties in SA and Victoria, but there will be no mandated destruction of host material.

ToBRFV has not been detected in Tasmania and a General Biosecurity Direction (Emergency) for ToBRFV remains in place to minimise the risk of the plant disease entering Tasmania.

Biosecurity Tasmania will consult and work closely with Tasmanian industry and other jurisdictions to help prevent the virus from entering Tasmania.

ToBRFV is a highly contagious plant virus that affects tomatoes, capsicums and chillies. Infected plants show symptoms such as mosaic patterns, yellowing and deformities on leaves, while fruits develop brown wrinkled spots, deformations and uneven ripening. These symptoms result in reduced yield and marketability. The virus has no known effects on human health.

Report anything unusual immediately to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881 or contact us at biosecurity.tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au

(4/6/2025)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds;

Biosecurity Advisory 19/2025 - Public Release of Plant Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis for Import Requirement 10 Grape Phylloxera - Hosts and Vectors

Following public consultation in October 2024, Biosecurity Tasmania has released the Second Edition of the Import Risk Analysis (IRA), Grape Phylloxera – Hosts and Vectors. As a result of the IRA there will be updates to Import Requirement (IR) 10 in the 2025 edition of the Plant Biosecurity Manual Tasmania (the Manual). IR10 regulates the import of grape phylloxera, hosts and vectors into Tasmania, under the Biosecurity Act 2019.

When assessing the pest risks that may be associated with the trade of imported biosecurity matter (plants and plant products) into Tasmania, Biosecurity Tasmania follows nationally and internationally recognised pest risk analysis methodology to identify those pests whose unrestricted risk estimate (URE) may exceed Tasmania’s Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP) of ‘very low’ risk for traded biosecurity matter. For those pests identified as presenting an unacceptable level of risk in trade, risk mitigation measures are then introduced to reduce the risk in trade to an acceptable level.

IRA for Grape Phylloxera
The IRA for IR10 Grape Phylloxera – Hosts and Vectors, reviewed a very serious threat to the Tasmanian viticulture industry. The purpose of this exercise was to review the existing IRA considering any new information on grape phylloxera biology and its management practices that could lead to changes in the existing import requirement. The review commenced in June 2022; a draft version was released for public consultation in October 2024.

The revised pest risk assessment found an unrestricted risk estimate of ‘moderate’ to ‘high’ for all vectors of grape phylloxera (excluding tissue culture) which exceeds Tasmania’s Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP) of ‘very low’. Therefore, phytosanitary measures continue to be required to prevent grape phylloxera entry, establishment and spread in Tasmania. As a result, recommendations were made to update IR10 to ensure Tasmania is appropriately protected from grape phylloxera without being unnecessarily trade restrictive. The recommendations update IR10 and include additional vectors not addressed by the previous IRA.

Where can you find a copy of the report?
Downloadable copies of the IRA can be found on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania website at: Finalised Import Risk Analyses | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

(29/5/2025)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Invasive Species; Plant pests; Plant diseases; Policy and Legislation;

Biosecurity Advisory 18/2025 - Tasmanian Weeds Action Fund Stage 3 - Round 1

Since 2019, the Tasmanian government has invested over $6 million on weed management in Tasmania through the Weeds Action Fund (WAF).

WAF Stages 1 and 2 delivered projects aimed at ensuring the viability of Tasmania's agricultural, horticultural and conservation lands. WAF Stage 2 projects are in the final stages of delivery and will be concluding in June 2025.

The Tasmanian Weeds Action Fund Stage 3 is now open for grant applications. The grant round runs from 5 May 2025 to 26 May 2025 and is open to Tasmanian businesses and organisations involved in natural resource management activities.

The focus of WAF Stage 3 is on the delivery of six major projects worth a total of $1,190,000. These projects will be rolled out across Tasmania from 2025-2027.

The six projects cover priority weeds and specific regions of the state. They will include established and emerging agricultural and environmental weeds.

Grant Guidelines and Specifications are available online at www.nre.tas.gov.au/invasive-species/weeds/tasmanian-weeds-action-fund

Key elements of WAF Stage 3 include:

Encouraging strategic, cross-tenure, weed management planning and actions at a local and regional scale.
Implementing on-ground works targeting key priority species affecting rural production and conservation assets.
Building on previous WAF Stage 1 and 2 projects, including funding follow-up works and implementing actions identified under weed management plans and strategies.
Developing 'legacy' elements, with value and use beyond this funding round. This will include developing online resources, and education and awareness activities to help build weed management capacity.

(6/5/2025)
Categories: Animals (general); Cropping; Gene technology; Horticulture; Information for Bass Strait Islands; Invasive Species; Natural environment; Pasture; Policy and Legislation; Plant pests; Plant diseases;

Biosecurity Advisory 17/2025 - Review of Animal Welfare (Animal Transport) Regulations – Public Consultation still open

Tasmania has Animal Welfare Regulations in place for the transport of livestock, administered under the Animal Welfare Act 1993. These Regulations cover a range of species when being transported.

A recent review by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) has highlighted that the Regulations are largely sufficient for most species being transported but need review in the context of horses and bobby calves (calves under 30 days of age).

NRE Tas had produced a discussion paper outlining several proposed changes to improve Animal Welfare during transit for horses and bobby calves.

This discussion paper should be read in conjunction with the Animal Welfare (Transport of Livestock) Regulations (No.2) 2023, which can be found at www.legislation.tas.gov.au

Public consultation is still open on the discussion paper and will close at 5pm on 9 May 2025. You can access the discussion paper and make a public submission at www.nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/animal-welfare/legislation-standards-guidelines/animal-welfare-(transport-of-livestock)-regulations

(29/4/2025)
Categories: Animal welfare; Animals (general); Gene technology; Information for Bass Strait Islands; Livestock; Policy and Legislation;

Biosecurity Advisory 16/2025 - Public Release of Plant Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis (IRA) Reports for Potato and Myrtle Rust

Following public consultation in October 2024, Biosecurity Tasmania is releasing two new plant biosecurity Import Risk Analysis (IRA) reports. The finalised IRAs will result in the inclusion of Import Requirements in the 2025 edition of the Plant Biosecurity Manual Tasmania (the Manual).

When assessing the pest risks associated with the trade of imported biosecurity matter (plants and plant products) into Tasmania, Biosecurity Tasmania follows nationally and internationally recognised pest risk analysis methodology. This helps to identify pests that may exceed Tasmania's Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP) of 'very low' risk if their trade occurs unregulated. For those pests identified as presenting an unacceptable level of risk in trade, risk mitigation measures are then introduced to reduce the risk in trade to an acceptable level.

IRA for Potato

The IRA for potato is a 3-part report that reviews the risk presented by potato imports for all types of potato matter and is the first ever 'commodity level' review undertaken by Biosecurity Tasmania for the state. The potato industry sector in Tasmania was consulted closely throughout the review.

The IRA comprises a review of 687 pests and diseases of potato in total. Approximately 40% of these pests are known to be present in Tasmania while 66% of the reviewed pests are present in mainland Australia.

Twenty-six pests and diseases of potato were subject to full risk assessment against nine identified potential pathways for entry of potato matter into the state.

The IRA found that regulations in trade need to be introduced for seven different pests of significant biosecurity concern, along with a declared weed genus – Orobanche spp. (broomrapes).

IRA for Myrtle Rust

The IRA for Myrtle Rust addresses the serious threat posed by the invasive disease myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) to the Australian natural environment. This disease continues to cause serious damage to Australian native ecosystems and plant species along the eastern seaboard of mainland Australia. The disease attacks a very wide range of species in the Myrtaceae plant family wherever the disease has been introduced around the world.

First detected in Australia in 2010 it has spread rapidly and driven several highly susceptible Myrtaceae species to near extinction.

Though a strain of myrtle rust is present in Tasmania, pest records of this disease's presence in the field in Tasmania (both north and south) confirm that the disease is entirely limited to introduced (exotic) hybridised Myrtaceae nursery plants like Lophomyrtus cultivars in home gardens. To date, there have been no pest records of myrtle rust occurring on native Tasmanian myrtaceae species.

The IRA confirmed that the unrestricted risk estimate of this disease being potentially re-introduced via trade of 'at risk' Myrtaceae plant matter from interstate still exceeds Tasmania's ALOP of 'very low' risk. As a result, a new import requirement (IR47) will be introduced into the Tasmanian plant biosecurity manual to regulate the trade of 'at risk' plant nursery stock.

A profile of the disease can be found on the NRE Tas website here: Myrtle Rust | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

Where can you find a copy of these reports?

Downloadable copies of both these IRAs can be found on online at: Finalised Import Risk Analyses | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

(8/4/2025)
Categories: Cropping; Gene technology; Horticulture; Information for Bass Strait Islands; Invasive Species; Natural environment; Pasture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds;

Biosecurity Advisory 15/2025 - Public Consultation Open on the FSANZ Egg Food Safety Standard Review

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has completed a review of egg food safety and primary production requirements under the Food Standards Code (the Code). The review proposes amendments to Standard 4.2.5 Primary production and processing standard for eggs and egg products.

Proposed amendments to the Code will strengthen egg and egg product safety in Australia through measures including environmental monitoring, improved traceability and temperature control during storage and transport.

Eggs are an important part of a healthy diet and a staple food for many Australians, so ensuring their continued safety is essential.

The proposed changes build on existing biosecurity and food safety measures to further reduce the risk of Salmonella Enteritidis and strengthen traceability throughout the supply chain.

The evidence-based amendments will help to minimise risks to public health, improve the response to potential outbreaks and support nationally consistent regulation of eggs and egg products.

This review follows a 2018-19 Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to eggs which resulted in 245 illnesses.

To have your say about this proposal visit the FSANZ Consultation Hub. Submissions close at 11:59pm (AEST) on 12 May 2025.

(4/4/2025)
Categories: Animal welfare; Animals (general); Gene technology; Information for Bass Strait Islands; Livestock; Policy and Legislation; Wildlife;

Biosecurity Advisory 14/2025 - Renewal of ToBRFV General Biosecurity Direction

South Australia's Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) and Agriculture Victoria are responding to detections of tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV).

In November 2024, a National Response Plan to eradicate the virus under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed was endorsed by the National Management Group. The plan was developed by PIRSA in conjunction with Commonwealth, state and territory government representatives, and industry representatives.

ToBRFV has not been detected in Tasmania however the virus has been confirmed on 4 properties in South Australia and on a property in Victoria.

To protect Tasmanian industries and home gardens, Biosecurity Tasmania's Chief Plant Protection Officer put in place an emergency biosecurity direction in October 2024. This biosecurity direction prevents the movement of ToBRFV host plants or plant materials into Tasmania from areas known to be infected with the virus or linked to known infections.

This emergency biosecurity direction has been renewed for a further six months (unless revoked earlier) and can be viewed at www.nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/the-tasmanian-biosecurity-compendium/general-biosecurity-directions

Report anything unusual immediately to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881 or contact us at biosecurity.tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au

For further information about the detections in South Australia and Victoria visit www.outbreak.gov.au

(4/4/2025)
Categories: Cropping; Gene technology; Horticulture; Natural environment; Pasture; Plant diseases; Policy and Legislation; Seeds;

Biosecurity Advisory 13/2025 - Upcoming Forest and Tree Biosecurity Workshops

The Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania and Plant Health Australia will hold a free forest and tree biosecurity workshop,

3 April 2025 10.00am - 3.00pm at;

C3 Convention Centre, 64 Anglesea Rd, South Hobart

The workshops aim is to raise awareness and enable the early detection of exotic pests posing biosecurity risks to trees in our urban, natural, and commercial environments.

The workshop will be of particular interest to those working in the field with trees, those undertaking tree health assessments and/or plant pest trapping and treatments, and those interested in collecting records and data on tree health in relation to their area of work. The focus will be on biosecurity pests of concern.

The workshop will cover:

The importance of biosecurity
Signs and symptoms– what do we mean by dieback, cankers or frass and what do they look like?
Information about key pest threats - What do they look like? What should you look for?
Introduction to MyPestGuide™ Trees and MyPestGuide™ Reporter App
How to report suspect exotic pests

Please RSVP by completing the following form: https://forms.office.com/r/UN0x9DdLba

RSVPs are due by 27 March 2025.

If this workshop might be of value to others in your workplace/area of work, please forward this invitation.

If you have further enquiries, please contact us.

Veronica Hayes - Surveillance Coordinator (Plant Biosecurity)
0448 366 101 or veronica.hayes@nre.tas.gov.au

Rohan Burgess – (Surveillance Manager)
(02) 6215 7700 or RBurgess@phau.com.au

(17/3/2025)
Categories: Horticulture; Cropping; Invasive Species; Natural environment; Plant diseases; Plant pests;

Biosecurity Advisory 12/2025 - Update on the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Response

Biosecurity Tasmania is continuing the response to the detection of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB; Halyomorpha halys) in Bell Bay.

BMSB was initially detected in a border surveillance trap and identified as BMSB on 13 February 2025. At that time, Biosecurity Tasmania immediately stood up and Incident Management Team (IMT) to manage and coordinate the response to this BMSB detection and commenced response activities in line with national arrangements.

An additional 14 surveillance traps were deployed, and Biosecurity Officers increased their surveillance regime. This increased surveillance will remain in place for at least 12 weeks from the initial detection.

During this period of increased trapping and surveillance, a second detection of BMSB was confirmed on 11 March 2025. This detection was in very close proximity to the initial detection site and is not unexpected given the increased surveillance activities underway. A further 4 traps will be implemented in response to the second detection, and treatment options are being considered by the Department where appropriate.

Trapping and surveillance operations will continue at an increased rate for the remainder of the 12-week period.

More information is available online at www.nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/current-biosecurity-alerts

If you think you have seen BMSB in your crop or backyard, phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

(17/3/2025)
Categories: Animals (general); Cropping; Gene technology; Horticulture; Information for Bass Strait Islands; Invasive Species; Natural environment; Pasture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds; Timber imports;

Biosecurity Advisory 11/2025 – Commencement of the 2025 Tasmanian calicivirus (RHDV1) release for rabbit control

Rabbits are considered Australia’s most significant invasive pest and impact many of Australia’s threatened species and environments.

Biosecurity Tasmania has recently received a resupply of calicivirus (RHDV1) to use as a biological control for rabbit populations in Tasmania when conditions are suitable.

Calicivirus is specific to rabbits and there is no risk of calicivirus transferring to other animals or humans.

RHDV1 releases only occur when environmental conditions are favourable for a successful release as recommended by scientific studies.

Trained Biosecurity Tasmania staff continue to monitor conditions, with Autumn looking favourable so far. In most locations we are seeing grass drying out and as a result rabbits have stopped breeding. Young rabbits (less than 12 weeks old) are immune or resistant to RHDV1, and if exposed, survive and develop lifelong immunity. This immunity can be passed onto subsequent generations, meaning that the timing of RHDV1 releases are critical to its ongoing effectiveness as a control method.

Release of RHDV1 has now commenced and it is anticipated that it will be able to occur through Autumn until conditions start to deteriorate and become cold and wet again.

Planned calicivirus release locations

Planned release locations for the week ahead will be published on the Biosecurity Tasmania website https://nre.tas.gov.au/invasive-species/invasive-animals/invasive-mammals/european-rabbits/tasmanian-calicivirus-release-sites

Please note:

There are many environmental variables which may impact on the success of a RHDV1 release.
Releases are particularly subject to weather conditions and are at the discretion of Biosecurity Tasmania Authorised Officers trained to perform RHDV1 releases.
Additional sites may be added or alternatively some sites may be removed.

Releases completed for the week commencing 24 February 2025
North	South	North West
Westbury
Osmaston
Exton

Releases planned for the week commencing 3 March 2025
North	South	North West
Kayena	Brighton	Mole Creek
Sidmouth	Pontville
Deviot	Mangalore
Exeter	Bagdad
Gravelly Beach	Granton
Riverside	Derwent Valley

More information

For more information about controlling rabbits in Tasmania, including:

Where will calicivirus be released?
Is RHDV1 calicivirus safe and humane?
What conditions are required before a RHDV1 calicivirus release can occur?
What assists in a successful RHDV1 calicivirus release?
What is the difference between calicivirus vs myxomatosis?
How can I protect my pet rabbit?
Why am I seeing rabbit deaths when there has been no release of RHDV1 in my area?
What should I do with dead rabbits?
What are my responsibilities as a landowner?

Visit the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania website at: https://nre.tas.gov.au/rabbits.

To discuss rabbit management options for your property, contact Biosecurity Tasmania at biosecurity.tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au or online via the invasive species reporting form: https://nre.tas.gov.au/invasive-species/report-invasive-species.

(3/3/2025)
Categories: Animal welfare; Animals (general); Invasive Species; Natural environment;

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