Biosecurity New Zealand takes action in response to tomato virus from Australia

Biosecurity New Zealand has imposed import restrictions on tomato seed imports from Australia due to the detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus in two South Australian growing properties. The virus, which has never been found in New Zealand, affects tomatoes, capsicums, and chillies, causing yellowing and deformity in the host plants. All imported seeds for sowing from Australia will now require testing for the virus, and tomato imports from all Australian states except Queensland have been temporarily suspended. The agency is in close contact with its Australian counterparts and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Biosecurity New Zealand has placed import restrictions on tomato seed imports from Australia, after the detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus at 2 South Australian growing properties. "We’ve stepped up our biosecurity requirements in response to the recent finds in South Australia," says Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director general Stuart Anderson. "Imported seeds for sowing from Australia will now require testing for the virus prior to arrival in New Zealand, which is a requirement that is already in place for other countries where the virus is present. "We have also temporarily suspended tomato imports from all Australian states except Queensland, where there is no evidence of the disease or links to the affected properties in South Australia." Stuart Anderson says all our imported tomatoes from Australia currently come from Queensland and not South Australia. "We’re in close contact with our counterparts in Australia about what they’ve found and the measures they are ...