Australia has officially shifted its response to the tomato brown rugose fruit virus from eradication to long-term management.

The change is welcome news for tomato growers in the region, especially for Katunga Fresh, where the disease was detected in January and again in May.

“The decision to move to a management strategy for tomato brown rugose fruit virus is a really positive one for Moira Shire, as home to major tomato producers,” Moira Shire Council chair administrator Graeme Emonson said.

“The shift will mean a level of much-needed certainty for operators like Katunga Fresh.

“The resulting biosecurity measures put in place in January had a significant impact for the business and its employees, and our wider community.”

Dr Emonson said the jobs created by allowing a return to Katunga Fresh were not only good for the company but good for the community.

“Transitioning to a management model will allow Katunga Fresh to continue production of their current crop,” he said.

“This change also ensures continued employment for their staff, many of whom have returned to work as part of the reseeding and replanting efforts following earlier decontamination processes.

“It will also enable them to plan for future operations with certainty in accordance with updated management practices.

“Katunga Fresh is a major employer and contributor to the Moira Shire economy, so this is a great outcome to ensure people remain in local jobs, which will have positive broader flow on effects to the regional economy and to our communities as well.”

The decision to change the disease’s status, made by the National Management Group, followed increasing evidence of seed-borne introductions, the inability to detect very low levels of seed infection, and the practical challenges of early detection that have made eradication no longer technically feasible.

Agriculture Victoria announced the change on May 29.

Victoria's acting chief plant health officer Stephen Dibley said the virus’s characteristics and factors relating to the ability to permanently remove it from a facility have contributed to the decision that eradication is no longer feasible.

“Not only does ToBRFV establish, spread and persist easily in the environment, but has proven difficult to detect and control,” Dr Dibley said.

Greenlife Industry Australia research, development and biosecurity director John McDonald said the shift was necessary but that clarity on plant and product movement was urgently needed to avoid ongoing disruption and provide businesses with certainty.

“We welcome the move to long-term management, but decisions on plant and product movement must follow quickly with GIA actively working with Agriculture Victora and Primary Industries and Regions South Australia,” Mr McDonald said.

“Clarity is urgently needed to avoid prolonged disruption across the nursery production and tomato supply chains.

“The virus is effectively managed internationally by industry across all major continents, which we can rapidly take learnings from and apply in Australia.”

Affected businesses can expect:

ToBRFV is a highly contagious plant virus which affects tomatoes, capsicums and chillies, causing reductions in yield and marketability.

Affected fruit and vegetables are safe to consume.

ToBRFV was first detected in South Australia last year and is now known to be present at three businesses in South Australia.

Growers should make a report if they suspect the presence of ToBRFV in their crop.

Report by phoning the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881 or online via the Agriculture Victoria website: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/pest-insects-and-mites/report-an-unusual-plant-pest-or-disease

More information about ToBRFV can be found at: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/plant-diseases/vegetable-diseases/tomato-brown-rugose-fruit-virus

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