Seizure of fly-infected citrus fruit shows value of quaratine barriers

11/6/97

Primary Industry Minister Monty House said the value of Western Australia's quarantine barriers in protecting the State's agricultural industries had been clearly demonstrated with the recent seizure of citrus fruit infested with Queensland fruit fly.

Mr House said a mobile quarantine checkpoint on the Laverton-Warburton Road had intercepted a large quantity of fruit and vegetables including a lemon infested with Queensland fruit fly which is not found in WA.

"Agriculture Western Australia operates mobile road checkpoints on alternative entry points into the State to support the main quarantine checkpoints at Kununurra and on the Western Australia/South Australia border," he said.

"The increased funding for quarantine and surveillance activities announced in the recent State Budget will enable the present coverage of mobile checkpoints to be extended.

"This will benefit most agricultural industries by providing additional protection with increased coverage of more remote entry points."

Mr House said the Queensland fruit fly incident and another recent case involving codling moth and European red mite had demonstrated the effectiveness and need for quarantine.

Previous isolated outbreaks in the Perth metropolitan area had been successfully eradicated by Agriculture Western Australia.

"This particular fruit fly can do a tremendous amount of damage to fruit and vegetable crops," the Minister said.

"If it was allowed to become established in WA, Queensland fruit fly could cost growers up to $2 million in lost production and increased costs each year.

"In addition, our fruit would need to be sprayed with more insecticides."

The infested citrus was among 31 kilograms of assorted fruit seized from one vehicle travelling from Queensland.

The seized produce included 10 kilograms of citrus as well as onions, pawpaws, potatoes and other fruits and vegetables.

After an initial examination, the infested lemon was taken to Agriculture Western Australia's South Perth quarantine laboratory to identify the flies.

They were confirmed as being Queensland fruit fly and were destroyed.

More than 100 kilograms of produce illegally brought into WA from other States and a number of second hand fruit cartons were seized.

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell (08) 9481 2044