The Plant Health Committee (PHC) and industries affected by the tomato potato psyllid (TPP) have been in discussion to determine the movement conditions for the potential arrival of TPP in the eastern states of Australia.

The PHC has requested feedback on the proposed movement conditions, which are provided below. In particular, the PHC is interested in receiving feedback regarding whether or not the proposed conditions are workable for industry stakeholders to ensure business continuity with minimal impact.

Agreement on trade and quarantine arrangements for processing and ware potatoes (‘Step 1’, below) will allow the seed potato industry to continue to finalise and agree on a recommended suite of measures (‘Step 2’) without holding up the processing and ware sectors – noting that all measures need to mitigate the risk of spread of CLso and to enable certified seed potatoes produced under an approved seed certification scheme to move freely from a TPP-infested area into a TPP-free area without further restriction.

If you have feedback, you can contact your state’s Chief Plant Health Manager or provide your comments to AUSVEG National TPP Coordinator Alan Nankivell on 0428 260 430 or at alan.nankivell@ausveg.com.au.

Please return feedback by close of business on Friday 18 May.

Proposed movement conditions
Step 1: Acceptance of trade and quarantine arrangements for processing and ware potatoes
  1. PHC agree no need for any ‘plant standards, movements controls or an ICA’ for potatoes for consumption or processing.
  2. Implementation to commence with brief consultation with industry – 14 days.
  3. Subject to broad industry agreement, affected jurisdictions place the agreed protocol in their respective contingency plans.
Host commodity type Treatment Trade and quarantine Comment
Potatoes For processing Washed or brushed free of green leafy material Free movement within the ‘Eastern bloc’ Industry to do some engagement/communication on the risks if growers were sourcing and planting potatoes sold for consumption as seed in relation to spreading CLso and introducing it to their properties.

NOTE: To limit risks posed by CLso, Victorian businesses receiving potatoes will require a compliance agreement to ensure potatoes are not being sold for planting.
Fresh/ware Washed or brushed free of green leafy material Free movement within the ‘Eastern bloc’ Industry to do some engagement/communication on the risks if growers were sourcing and planting potatoes sold for consumption as seed in relation to spreading CLso and introducing it to their properties.

NOTE: To limit risks posed by CLso, Victorian businesses receiving potatoes will require a compliance agreement to ensure potatoes are not being sold for planting.
Tomato Processing TPP risk mitigation measures in line with on-going business is adopted on a day-today business As per negotiations with Vic/NSW/processing tomatoes As per negotiations with Vic/NSW/processing tomatoes
Step 2: Acceptance of TPP/CLso trade and quarantine arrangements for seed potato
  1. Industry to finalise their deliberation on a recommended suite of measures that would mitigate the risk of spread of CLso, and report back to PHC as soon as possible.
  2. Subject to industry advice, affected jurisdictions to accept certified seed potatoes produced under an approved seed certification scheme to move freely from a TPP-infested area into a TPP-free area without further restriction (and also place this arrangement in respective contingency plans).
Host commodity type Treatment Trade and quarantine Comment
Potatoes Seed Risk mitigation measures are adopted in the current seed certification scheme Regulated movement permitted of certified seed potatoes produced under an approved seed certification scheme to move freely from a TPP-infested area into a TPP-free area without further restriction
Step 3: Acceptance of TPP/CLso trade and quarantine arrangements for tomatoes, vegetables and seedlings
  1. PHC to agree on draft trade and quarantine arrangements for tomatoes, vegetables and seedlings.
  2. Implementation to commence with brief consultation with industry – 14 days.
  3. Subject to broad industry agreement, affected jurisdictions place the agreed protocol in their respective contingency plans.
Host commodity type Treatment Trade and quarantine Comment
Fresh tomatoes As per ICA26 or as per current agreement with WA (ie any appropriate insecticide) Regulated movement permitted under ICA certification N/A
Tomato seedlings As per ICA26 (for TPP only)

Property freedom (TPP/CLso)

 Regulated movement of certified product permitted under ICA certification or Biosecure HACCP ICA26 for TPP only. (Insecticide treatment is not appropriate for CLso)

For TPP/CLso – use property freedom
Fresh vegetables As per ICA 26 Regulated movement permitted under ICA certification N/A
Vegetable seedlings (non CLso hosts) As per ICA 26 Regulated movement of certified product permitted under ICA certification or Biosecure HACCP N/A

This post appeared in the AUSVEG Weekly Update published 8 May 2018. Subscribe to the Update using our online form to receive the latest industry news in your inbox every week!

The strategic levy investment project MT16018 – Tomato potato pysllid (TPP) National Program Coordinator is funded by potato processing, fresh potato and vegetable research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.