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.

361 advisories found for Cropping.

Biosecurity Advisory 37/2025 - Reminder - Consultation on Development of the Primary Produce Safety (Horticulture Produce) Regulations 2025 closes 19 Dec 2025

Biosecurity Tasmania encourages all stakeholders to provide feedback on the Development of the Primary Produce Safety (Horticulture Produce) Regulations 2025.

Public consultation will close at 5pm on 19 December 2025.

The draft regulations propose:

the adoption of the FSANZ Primary Production and Processing (PPP) Standards in Tasmania
establishment of new food safety schemes for berries, leafy greens, and melons – similar to the schemes already in place for meat, poultry, seed sprouts, eggs, seafood and pet food.
compliance requirements including notification, accreditation and audited food safety program
suggested fees and penalties

You can access the consultation draft and make a submission at Development of the Primary Produce Safety (Horticulture Produce) Regulations.

Submissions will be reviewed at the close of public consultation, and a subsequent version of the Regulations developed in early 2026.

Interested stakeholders will be provided a further opportunity to comment on the Regulations and a tiered model for accreditation and fees prior to finalisation.

For more information, please contact:
Email: product.integrity@nre.tas.gov.au
Mail: Product Integrity Branch, NRE Tas, PO Box 46, King Meadows TAS 7249

(12/12/2025)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Policy and Legislation;

Biosecurity Advisory 36/2025 - Additional Information on changes to Import Requirement 46 - Hosts and Carriers of Tomato Potato Psyllid

The group permit outlining amendments to Import Requirement (IR) 46 for Potential Hosts or Carriers of Tomato Potato Psyllid entering Tasmania came into effect on Monday 8 December 2025. It is available online at https://nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/the-tasmanian-biosecurity-compendium/group-permits

The new IR includes multiple new treatment options and import pathways for hosts and carriers of tomato potato psyllid (TPP). Hosts include potatoes, tomatoes, capsicums, eggplants, chillies, tamarillos, and sweet potatoes . TPP can also be carried by multiple types of produce with green tops, and nursery stock, plants and cut flowers. A complete list of hosts and carriers can be requested from the Department for businesses that require it.

These changes to IR46 are new and relate to a plant pest that Victorian businesses have not had to previously consider managing, particularly when exporting goods to Tasmania.

To support businesses while adjusting their operational activities to meet the new requirements, Biosecurity Tasmania has implemented a grace period until 22 December 2025. During this time, we will focus on educating and providing advice to businesses that fall short of the new requirements, or if there are any minor discrepancies with the importation process for TPP hosts and carriers. Major or intentional breaches of regulations may still be investigated under relevant legislation.

Businesses must make all reasonable efforts to ensure they comply with the new requirements outlined in the group permit, and failure to meet Tasmanian import requirements may result in penalties under the Biosecurity Act 2019.

TPP is an insect pest that affects crops including potatoes, tomatoes and capsicums. It feeds on other plants too including eggplants chillies, tamarillos, and sweet potatoes. Its feeding can cause plants to become stunted, with curled and yellow leaves.

TPP can also spread a serious disease called Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), which causes “zebra chip” in potatoes. This disease creates dark stripes inside potatoes, making them unmarketable and reducing crop yields. CLso is not currently present in Australia.

To stay informed on any changes to regulation for produce entering Tasmania from Victoria, visit the Department of Natural Resources and Environment webpage.

(11/12/2025)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Invasive Species; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation;

Biosecurity Advisory 35/2025 - Tomato potato psyllid detections in Victoria

Tomato potato psyllid (TPP) is an insect pest that affects crops including potatoes, tomatoes and capsicums. It feeds on other plants too including eggplants chillies, tamarillos, and sweet potatoes. Its feeding can cause plants to become stunted, with curled and yellow leaves. TPP is established in Western Australia and was detected on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria in 2024. In October 2025 it was found in a Melbourne backyard outside of the Bellarine Peninsula Restricted Area.

TPP does not impact food safety and there is no risk to consumers.

This latest detection in Victoria will affect the movement of host and carrier materials between states, including to Tasmania. Due to this, Biosecurity Tasmania will be amending the current import requirements for TPP (Import Requirement (IR) 46 under the Plant Biosecurity Manual Tasmania 2024 edition).

These changes to import requirements will help to minimise the risk of TPP entering Tasmania while still maintaining necessary trade pathways between Tasmanian and Victoria for produce.

Agriculture Victoria is also rapidly implementing required accreditation arrangements to provide confidence in product movements to Tasmania being free of TPP.

The changes we are making to IR46 expand the treatment options available for TPP entering Tasmania and will include:

Methyl bromide fumigation or irradiation for host and carrier produce (fruit and vegetables), cut flowers and nursery stock.
Insecticide and export inspection for host and carrier nursery stock.

These changes will come into effect on 8 December 2025.

These changes to IR46 are new and relate to a plant pest that Victorian businesses have not had to previously consider managing, particularly when exporting goods to Tasmania.

Some commodities may not be as readily available as usual while businesses adapt their processes to meet the new requirements in IR46. This may include imported cut flowers, imported nursery stock, and some imported produce.

We do not anticipate this will impact food availability overall or cause food shortages. However, you may need to seek out alternative shops, businesses or suppliers to source some imported items while Victorian businesses adjust to these changes.

Shops and businesses that stock local or Tasmanian-grown flowers, nursery stock and produce will be unaffected.

The revised IR46 will be established through the issuance of a Group Permit and will be available on our website from 8 December 2025 at www.nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/the-tasmanian-biosecurity-compendium/group-permits

It is important to note this Group Permit will override the IR46 currently listed in the Plant Biosecurity Manual Tasmania 2024 edition. A new version of the manual with the revised IR46 will be issued in due course.

TPP can also spread a serious disease called Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), which causes “zebra chip" in potatoes. This disease creates dark stripes inside potatoes, making them unmarketable and reducing crop yields. CLso is not currently present in Australia.

Further updates on the TPP detections in Victoria are available on the Agriculture Victoria website.

To stay informed on any changes to regulation for produce entering Tasmania from Victoria, visit the Department of Natural Resources and Environment webpage.

(5/12/2025)
Categories: 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 34/2025 - Beekeeper Request for Hive Monitoring and Reporting

Tasmania remains free of varroa mite. If varroa mite were to establish here, it would have significant impacts on our bee population, pollination services, and honey production.

Early detection is our best defence. Monitoring and reporting by beekeepers is vital because it enables action to be taken while varroa populations are still small and manageable.

What you can do:

Carry out regular monitoring of your hives using alcohol wash, soapy water wash or sugar shake.
Report all results in BeeTAS, even if they are negative.

Why your monitoring matters:

The more beekeepers across Tasmania who regularly monitor and report their findings across Tasmania, the stronger our ability is to detect varroa mite early.
Reporting negative results is important as they provide confidence in Tasmania’s varroa mite-free status.
Reporting negative results also provides critical information to help guide decision-making if varroa mite is ever detected in Tasmania.

BeeTAS also hosts a ‘heatmap’, a visual representation of hive monitoring reports across Tasmania. It maps the number of inspection events in a particular area (rectangular) recorded through BeeTas. Within the area of each rectangle, the inspection location data is anonymous. You can find the heatmap here.

If you need help with monitoring or reporting, please contact the Biosecurity Tasmania Apiary team on Honeybee.Biosecurity@nre.tas.gov.au

Further contact details are available on the varroa mite webpage on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania website: Varroa Mite – Biosecurity Tasmania

Thank you for your ongoing support in protecting Tasmania’s bees and apiary-reliant industries.

(25/11/2025)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Invasive Species; Plant pests; Animals (general);

Biosecurity Advisory 33/2025 - Development of the Primary Produce Safety (Horticulture Produce) Regulations 2025

In Tasmania, Primary Produce Safety Regulations are enforced to manage potential risks to human health associated with foodborne illness during production of primary produce. The products that are currently regulated are meat and poultry, some seafood, eggs and petfood.

Until recently, seed sprouts were the only regulated horticultural commodity. However, since February 2025, new national Primary Production and Processing (PPP) Standards were introduced for berries, leafy vegetables and melons. More information on the development of the Standards can be found in the Proposal P1052 - PPP Requirements for Horticulture (Berries, Leafy Vegetables and Melons) | Food Standards Australia New Zealand

To implement these standards in Tasmania, new regulations are required. Draft Primary Produce Safety (Horticulture Produce) Regulations 2025 have been developed under the Primary Produce Safety Act 2011 to:

adopt the PPP Standards in Tasmania
establish food safety schemes for berries, leafy vegetables, melons and seed sprouts
provide compliance requirements (accreditation, food safety programs, audits)
stipulate fees and penalties

Public consultation is now open on these draft regulations and will close at 5 pm on 5 December 2025.
You can access the consultation draft and make a submission at Development of the Primary Produce Safety (Horticulture Produce) Regulations.
For more information, please contact:
Email: product.integrity@nre.tas.gov.au
Mail: Product Integrity Branch, NRE Tas, PO Box 46, King Meadows TAS 7249

(30/10/2025)
Categories: Cropping; Policy and Legislation; Plant diseases; Horticulture; Plant pests; Seeds;

Biosecurity Advisory 32/2025 - Potato Mop-top Virus Response Winding Down

Biosecurity Tasmania’s response to the detection of potato mop top virus (PMTV) is winding down as management in Tasmania moves to an industry led approach.

Since July 2025, Biosecurity Tasmania and the state’s potato industry have been actively responding to a detection of PMTV in Tasmania.

PMTV was first detected in potatoes harvested from Northwest Tasmania in July 2025. Over the following months, further detections were made across sites in the north and south of the state.

On 19 September 2025 the National Management Group, formed under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed, agreed that PMTV was not technically feasible to eradicate from Australia.

Some of the acknowledged challenges for successful eradication included:

the widespread presence of powdery scab, the vector of the virus.
difficulty detecting all infected areas; and
the virus's ability to persist undetected in soil in the presence of powdery scab.

To the best of our knowledge, PMTV has not been eradicated anywhere it has been detected globally.

Once the response winds down, PMTV will become a pest to be managed through the potato production process.

Based on the experience of other countries such as New Zealand, it is anticipated that impacts to the potato industry will be minimal if the below steps are taken:

Establishing reasonable crop rotations.
Following good biosecurity hygiene practices.
Taking steps to manage the virus vector, powdery scab; and
Considering potato varieties which are more resilient to the virus.

Biosecurity Tasmania will continue to work with the industry to understand how PMTV is best managed in Tasmania, particularly when it comes to market access requirements.

All directions previously placed on premises during the response will be lifted and tracing and surveillance actions will cease.

To support the ongoing management of PMTV, Biosecurity Tasmania will be issuing a General Biosecurity Direction (GBD) detailing measures to slow the spread of the virus in Tasmania. The GBD will provide guidance to growers, contractors and processors on measures such as clean down of vehicles and machinery to reduce the movement of soil and managing powdery scab as appropriate.

The GBD will be available on the NRE website once issued https://nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/the-tasmanian-biosecurity-compendium/general-biosecurity-directions

The Tasmanian Government has provided $200 000 to the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) for a research program to help understand long term management of PMTV in Tasmania.

For market access support for businesses, please contact the market access team biosecurity.marketaccess@nre.tas.gov.au

Information about PMTV and preventing further disease spread is available here https://nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/plant-biosecurity/pests-and-diseases/potato-mop-top-virus

NRE Tas would like to thank the Tasmanian potato industry for their ongoing collaboration during the PMTV response and the Tasmanian community for their understanding during this time.

(22/10/2025)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds;

Biosecurity Advisory 31/2025 - Start of Fruit Fly High Risk Season for Tasmania

Spring is here, which means more pressure and risk of fruit flies occurring in fruit from mainland states. Biosecurity Tasmania asks all Tasmanians to keep an eye out for anything unusual in the fruit they buy or grow. The spring and summer months are the peak times for fruit fly activity interstate and a time of increased risk for Tasmania.

Tasmania is fruit fly free, help us keep it that way!

Biosecurity Tasmania has strict controls and ongoing statewide surveillance in place; all aimed at reducing the risk of fruit flies getting into Tasmania. We also rely on the eyes of everyone and ask everybody to report any signs of fruit fly.

Tell-tale signs of fruit fly include live larvae or eggs in the flesh of fruit, or small puncture marks on the skin of fruit. Fruit fly larvae look similar to blowfly maggots and could potentially be found in fruit that you purchased, or from fruit grown in your backyard.

Fruit flies lay eggs in a wide range of fruits and fruiting vegetables.

Remember biosecurity is a shared responsibility, and we all have a general biosecurity duty. Biosecurity Tasmania works closely with mainland states to help manage the fruit fly risk and there are increased resources and inspections taking place at the border for imported fruit fly host produce. However, the risk to Tasmania can never be zero. Therefore industry, government and the community are encouraged to remain vigilant and work together to help protect Tasmania.

Anyone who notices any larvae in fruit is asked to put the fruit in a sealed bag or container, place it in the refrigerator and contact Biosecurity Tasmania on 03 6165 3777. Please DO NOT dispose of any fruit that has larvae present.

More information on fruit fly is at www.nre.tas.gov.au/fruitfly

(7/10/2025)
Categories: Animal welfare; Animals (general); Cropping; Gene technology; Horticulture; Information for Bass Strait Islands; Invasive Species; Natural environment; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds; Timber imports; Wildlife; Bird flu; Freshwater pests; Livestock; Marine pests; Pasture;

Biosecurity Advisory 30/2025 – National Management Group releases decision on potato mop-top virus response in Tasmania

Tasmania is responding to the detection of potato mop-top virus (PMTV; Pomovirus solani). PMTV was first detected in Tasmania in July 2025.

On Wednesday 17 September 2025 Biosecurity Tasmania presented its view on feasibility of eradication to the national Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP). The CCEPP presented its recommendation on this matter to the National Management Group (NMG) under the national processes detailed in the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed.

On Friday 19 September 2025 the NMG accepted the CCEPP advice that PMTV is not technically feasible to eradicate from Australia.

This decision reflects several key challenges:

Difficulty detecting all infected areas
The virus's ability to persist undetected in soil
Widespread presence of powdery scab (a known vector with long-lived soil-borne spores)
Risk of spread via seed, tubers, and soil movement

Importantly, there are no human health or food safety risks associated with PMTV or powdery scab and potatoes remain safe to eat.

Globally, PMTV occurs in many countries around the world. Experience shows that it can be successfully managed.

Industry-wide implementation of good biosecurity practices and management of powdery scab are the keys to minimising further spread and reducing impacts of PMTV in Tasmania.

The simplest first step is to “come clean, go clean" by removing soil and plant material from machinery, equipment, and boots before leaving one property and entering another.

Fresh and processing potatoes may still be exported to the mainland as long as they meet the import requirements specified by the relevant jurisdictions. There are no specified requirements for processed products such as chips.

While the NMG's decision means that an eradication strategy for PMTV will no longer be pursued, Biosecurity Tasmania will continue to:

Undertake a level of tracing and testing to support industry needs and help us understand more about the virus,
Work with impacted properties to understand their business needs and how production may continue while minimising the risk of spread of PMTV both within and from the property, and
Collaborate with the potato industry to work toward re-establishment of seed potato exports.

Report potential signs of the disease in potatoes or potato plants - contact Biosecurity.Tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au immediately, or call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

To stay updated on the biosecurity response to Potato mop-top virus in Tasmania, visit www.nre.tas.gov.au/PMTV

(22/9/2025)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Pasture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds;

Biosecurity Advisory 29/2025 - Notification of additional potato mop-top virus (PMTV) detection

Tasmania is responding to the detection of potato mop-top virus (PMTV; Pomovirus solani).

Biosecurity Tasmania is undertaking testing and tracing activities in collaboration with the potato industry. 

Testing by Biosecurity Tasmania’s Plant Diagnostic Services has confirmed a new detection in a harvested seed potato line currently in cool storage, bringing the total number of known affected sites to nine (9):

Seven (7) grower sites from which harvested potatoes (currently in storage) have been tested and PMTV detected, and 
Two (2) other sites where PMTV has been detected in potatoes, including a small research site in the south and a storage site in the north.

The new seed line has been traced to the south of the state, making it the first grower site to be affected in that region.

PMTV has also been detected in samples from three single potatoes. One potato was found at a processing site, and two were bought as fresh produce from retail stores. Links to known infected sites continue to be investigated. 

Biosecurity Tasmania works with impacted properties to understand their business and production needs while minimising the risk of spread of PMTV both within and from the property.

All sites identified as Infected Premises are issued a Biosecurity Direction under the Biosecurity Act 2019, restricting the movement of potato material, machinery and equipment, and soil to minimise the risk of spread of the virus.

Early traceback activities indicate that the virus may have been present in Tasmania for at least two years. All potato growers need to remain vigilant for any signs of disease in potato plants and potato stock.

If you do see any potential signs of the disease in potatoes or potato plants, please contact Biosecurity.Tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au immediately, or to call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

To stay updated on the biosecurity response to Potato mop-top virus in Tasmania, visit www.nre.tas.gov.au/PMTV

(19/9/2025)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Pasture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds;

Biosecurity Advisory 28/2025 - Potato mop-top virus response update

Tasmania is responding to the detection of potato mop-top virus (PMTV; Pomovirus solani).

Biosecurity Tasmania has been collaborating with industry to support testing of Tasmanian certified seed potato lines prior to planting. This testing program was completed as a high priority to:

Provide data on the presence of PMTV across seed lines,
Enable industry to make decisions about the 2025/26 growing season, and
Inform the future direction of the response.

All generation 2-5 certified seed potato lines have now been tested for PMTV. The bulk of this testing was achieved through a third-party provider of potato diagnostic services, with a smaller number of seed lines tested by the Biosecurity Tasmania laboratory.

PMTV was detected in only a relatively minor proportion of the significant volume of certified seed tested. For the remaining lines, it is important to understand that a result of ‘not detected’ may mean either that virus is not present, or that it is present but below detectable levels with the sampling and diagnostic tools applied.

Even so, the results provide information for the industry to act on for this planting season.

It is expected that the industry will be able to plant only seed lines in which PMTV has not been detected. Biosecurity Tasmania will continue to work with industry members to identify the best option for disposal of seed lines identified as infected. It will also continue to conduct tracing of any detections of PMTV and establish controls on material that may contribute to the spread of PMTV.

Tasmanian potatoes are safe to eat and continue to be recognised as a great, healthy, delicious product produced by our strong and vibrant local industry.

Feasibility of eradication of PMTV from Tasmania

The position of the Biosecurity Tasmania is that PMTV cannot be eradicated. This position is acknowledged and supported by Tasmania's Chief Plant Protection Officer, industry peak bodies and key Tasmanian industry stakeholders. This view has been informed by the following:

The widespread presence of powdery scab, the vector of the virus.
The ability of the virus to survive undetected within powdery scab spores for many years in the soil.
There is no control method known to effectively eliminate powdery scab.
The virus may present asymptomatically in tubers and plants.
It is not known how PMTV entered Australia, and it is unlikely that this can be confidently determined. This means reinfection is possible even if an attempt at eradication were made.

Biosecurity Tasmania presented its view on feasibility of eradication to the national Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP) on 17 September 2025. The CCEPP will present its recommendation on this matter to the National Management Group (NMG) through the national processes under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed. The decision of the NMG is anticipated shortly.

What industry can do

Globally, PMTV occurs in many countries around the world and experience shows that it can be successfully managed.

Industry-wide implementation of good biosecurity practices and management of powdery scab are the keys to minimising further spread and impact of PMTV in Tasmania.

Contractors, including planting, harvesting and carting services, utilities providers, agronomists and field officers, must support Tasmanian primary producers by making biosecurity a routine part of their day-to-day business practices.

The simplest first step is to follow a “come clean, go clean” approach by removing soil and plant material from machinery, equipment, and boots before leaving one property and entering another.

Biosecurity Tasmania will continue to collaborate with the potato industry to work toward re-establishment of seed potato exports.

What Biosecurity Tasmania is doing

Biosecurity Tasmania will continue to

Undertake a level of tracing and testing to support industry needs and help us understand more about the virus,
Work with impacted properties to understand their business needs and how production may continue while minimising the risk of spread of PMTV both within and from the property, and
Collaborate with the potato industry to work toward re-establishment of seed potato exports.

Report potential signs of the disease in potatoes or potato plants - contact Biosecurity.Tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au immediately, or to call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

To stay updated on the biosecurity response to Potato mop-top virus in Tasmania, visit www.nre.tas.gov.au/PMTV

(19/9/2025)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Pasture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds;

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