Queensland fruit fly Management Policy for Victoria
Queensland fruit fly (Bactroceratyroni)
Contents
1.Authorisation
2.Introduction
3.Policy Statement
4.Scope
5.Requirements
6.Management of QFF in Victoria
7.QFF biology
8.QFF risks
9.QFF management standards
10.Roles and Responsibilities
10.1On farm biosecurity
10.2Backyard fruit fly management
10.3Stakeholder awareness
10.4Training
10.5Domestic market access
10.6Diagnostics
10.7Legislation
10.8International Market Access
11.Related documents
Accessibility
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Queensland fruit fly Management Policy
1.Authorisation
TitleVictorian Queensland fruit fly (Bactroceratyroni) Management Policy for Victoria
Issuing Division/ BranchChief Plant Health Officer (CPHO), Biosecurity Branch
Date Effective18 January 2018
Enquires contact
Approved byChief Plant Health Officer
2.Introduction
This document outlines the policy principles underpinning the management of Queensland fruit fly (QFF), and strategies available to improve productivity and enhance trade opportunities.
3.Policy Statement
Queensland fruit fly (Bactroceratyroni) (QFF) is considered to be established in most Victorian fruit production regions. QFF poses a significant biosecurity threat to a range of industry sectors involved in the cultivation, distribution and marketing of fresh fruit and vegetables and accordingly is a declared exotic pest to Victoria under Section 5(3) of the Plant Biosecurity Act 2010.
QFFmanagement is a shared responsibility between industry (fruit growers and marketers), community groups and government.
4.Management of QFF in Victoria
The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) is the lead agency responsible for plant biosecurity programs including emergency response, domestic quarantine, and provision of area freedom and produce certification for QFF.
DEDJTR administers the Plant Biosecurity Act 2010 and associated Regulations, which support the development of appropriate policies underpinning QFF management.
Victoria’s approach to QFF management is focused on supporting industry and community groups in the delivery of programs aimed at improving market access and/or reducing management costs to fruit growers. These programs are delivered in a manner that is consistent with national expectations and in accordance with the requirements of relevant national and international standards.
To formalise this approach the Victorian government launched the Managing Fruit Fly in Victoria Action Plan 2015-20 in November 2015, to ensure industry, community and government stakeholders work together to enhance and improve the management of fruit fly, and optimise trade opportunities for the different regions of the state.
5.QFF biology
QFF is a tropical to sub-tropical species with a wide host range, which includes over 100 commercially cultivated fruit varieties. QFF damage occurs when a female fly ‘stings’ a ripe or over ripe piece of fruit in order to lay its eggs. Under optimal conditions, a single female can lay up to 80 eggs in a day, which hatch into larva. Larvae feeding on the fruit damage the fruit structure and promotes rotting. Additionally, the original sting may also introduce bacteria and other pests, which can further damage the fruit rendering it unmarketable.
Climate and available breeding sites limit the range of QFF, specifically high heat and/or low humidity and low temperatures (especially frosts) play a key role in limiting populations. Irrigation can increase a region’s suitability for QFF by eliminating the low humidity constraint and providing uninterrupted access to breeding sites. QFF becomes less active over winter and is thought to stop breeding. Sustained low temperatures increase mortality and therefore reduce QFF populations. However, due to recent milder winters in Victoria, QFF trapping data indicates that populations have remained active throughout the year.
6.QFF risks
Fruit fly populations will increase if:
- Infested fruit is left to fall on the ground to rot, or if placed in a compost heap without treatment to kill larvae.
- Commercial and backyard fruit are poorly managed and become infested.
- Feral and roadside trees, especially stone fruit, feijoa and loquat, are allowed to fruit.
- Infested commercial or home grown fruit is moved from one district to another.
7.QFF management standards
The following standards form the basis for QFF management:
- Code of Practice for the Management of Queensland fruit fly 1996 [Revision 1.1] (the COP) provides the standards for establishing and maintaining a Pest Free Area (PFA). The technical elements of the COP are also used to guide delivery of other QFF management functions including formal protocol surveillance and pest reporting. These form the basis for facilitating agreed standards for domestic and international market access.
- International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) are developed under the International Plant Protection Convention to provide countries with a basis for the development and delivery of risk based pest and disease management programs.
- Chemical labels & Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) issued minor use permits. These and Victoria’s Agriculture and Veterinary (Control of Use) Act 1992 provides authorisations and directions to commercial and backyard fruit growers on permitted uses of agricultural chemicals for managing QFF.
- Interstate certification protocols. The Interstate Certification Assurance (ICA) and bilateral/multilateral agreement systems of plant health certification are based on quality management principles. The ICA Scheme is a national scheme administered by all states and territories, whereas bilateral/multilateral agreements are made between particular jurisdictions. Both systems enable state or territory plant quarantine authorities to accredit businesses to issue plant health assurance certificates for their produce.
- Importing country requirements. The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) maintains a database of importing country requirements that producers and exporters need to meet in order to obtain phytosanitary certification.
8.Roles and Responsibilities
Government role:
- Inform affected stakeholders of their statutory responsibilities regarding produce certification and the requirements for moving host material within and into the state.
- Undertake formal QFF surveillance through the deployment and administration of protocol trap grids.
Industry role:
- Raise awareness of the importance of QFF management, legislative requirements and to promote broad adoption of on-farm biosecurity practices.
Grower role:
- Only sourcing fruit treated or area free for packing or processing.
- Implementing surveillance measures to monitor fruit fly populations.
- Responding to fly population when detected,
- Adopting hygiene strategies primarily focused on the treatment fruit fly breeding sites (i.e. unwanted fruit) to disrupt the life cycle of the pest.
- The application of registered chemicals to protect fruiting crops from adult fruit flies.
Community role:
- Raise awareness of the importance of QFF control in backyard fruit trees through adoption of appropriate host plant management strategies.
8.1Training
Training for the management of QFF is a shared responsibility and these services can be accessed from various sources including community groups, industry associations, state governments or third party providers.
8.2Domestic market access
QFF movement controls have been adopted by all states and territories as the basis for enabling intra and interstate movement of host material and used agricultural machinery. It remains the responsibility of industry members to comply with these requirements for government to ensure that the necessary certification services are available to growers, and that there is compliance with these requirements. Setting intra and interstate market access conditions and ensuring compliance with these conditions, is largely the responsibility of state governments in consultation with industry and interested businesses.
To provide growers with a cost effective option for obtaining market access, DEDJTR provides accreditations under the ICA scheme and bilateral/multilateral agreements. These accreditations facilitate intra and interstate movement of QFF host material. Accreditations are based upon quality assurance principles, which acknowledge and formalise industry’s role in achieving compliance with biosecurity expectations.
The following table shows a range of ICA protocols and procedures (PS) relevant to QFF management and market access purposes:
Name of Protocol / Protocol applicationICA-08 / Fruit fly compliance agreement
ICA-01 / Dipping for Quarantine – Treatment for control of QFF
ICA-02 / Flood Spraying for Quarantine – Treatment for control of QFF
ICA-04 / Fumigation for Quarantine
ICA-07 / Cold Treatment
ICA-19 / Queensland Fruit Fly – Treatment and Inspection of Mangoes
ICA-20 / Queensland Fruit Fly – Pre-harvest Treatment and Inspection of Table Grapes
ICA-21 / Pre-Harvest Treatment and Inspection – stone fruit, pome fruit, persimmons and blueberries
ICA-23 / Area or Property Freedom
ICA-26 / Pre-Harvest Treatment and Inspection
ICA-27 / Queensland Fruit Fly – Mature Green Condition of Tomatoes
ICA-30 / Hard Condition of Avocadoes
ICA-33 / Fruit Fly and Phylloxera
ICA-57 / Repacking of Fruit Fly host produce
PS-34 / QFF Property Freedom
PS-37 / Pest Free Places of Production
PS-38 / Pest Free Production Sites
8.3Diagnostics
The identification of QFF from submitted samples is the responsibility of DEDJTR’s Crop Health Services, who are the designated provider of diagnostics services to DEDJTR.
8.4Legislation
Legislation for a range of activities pertaining to trade and plant protection is the responsibility of state governments, however, industry plays a key role in influencing its development. Local government agencies also have the ability to develop and implement local by-laws to require local landholders to manage backyard fruit trees and fruiting plants in order to control QFF.
The Victorian State Government regulates plant industries through:
- Plant Biosecurity Act 2010
- Plant Biosecurity Regulations 2012
8.5International Market Access
While DAWR has responsibility for negotiating new and improved international market access, DEDJTR supports this process on behalf of Victorian producers. Additionally DEDJTR implements market access requirements, such as surveillance in pest free areas and various other pre-export and in-market activities to support trade.
9.Related documents
The draft National Fruit Fly Strategy (NFFS).
The draft NFFS aims to develop a viable, cost effective and sustainable national approach to fruit fly management with all stakeholders committed to the national policy that underpins this approach. The strategy builds on the substantial investments made over many years by industry and governments on operational, regulatory, research and development and market access programs to manage fruit fly.
The draft NFFS was released by the federal Minister for Agriculture in November 2008 following two years of consideration by multiple stakeholders. The draft strategy contains 20 recommendations and 80 strategies across major operational, policy and research areas.
The Managing Fruit Fly in Victoria: State-wide Action Plan 2015-2020
The Managing Fruit Fly in Victoria: State-wide Action Plan 2015-2020 recognises that all stakeholders share responsibilities for fruit fly management and need to work together to reduce the impacts of fruit fly on horticulture productivity, quality and market access opportunities. The Plan outlines a number of key actions under the following three areas:
- Strengthening the coordination and collaboration of fruit fly management.
- Improving the management of fruit fly.
- Enabling intrastate, interstate and international trade.
Last Reviewed18 January 2018
Next Review18 July 2018
Version No.1.6
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Queensland fruit fly Management Policy