In a bid to avoid ongoing disruption and provide certainty of supply, the national response to tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) will shift from eradication to long-term management.
The decision, made by the National Management Group, came after there was increasing evidence of seed-borne introductions, the inability to detect very low levels of seed infection, and the practical challenges of early detection. These factors made eradication no longer technically feasible.
ToBRFV was first detected in Australia in August 2024 and has since been found at multiple sites in South Australia, one site in Victoria, and New South Wales.
Despite initial efforts under a nationally endorsed eradication plan, the virus has continued to be detected, including through imported seed lines.
While not harmful to humans, the virus threatens crop yields and nursery viability due to its high contagion and persistence.
The decision to move to long-term management is seen as a critical turning point for tomato, capsicum and nursery production.
Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) director of Research, Development & Biosecurity, John McDonald, said while the shift was necessary, clarity was urgently needed on plant and product movement to avoid prolonged disruption across the nursery production and tomato supply chains.
“GIA is advocating for evidence-based, technically justified, cost-effective solutions that support both containment and continuity of trade. The virus is effectively managed internationally by industry across all major continents which we can rapidly take learnings from and apply in Australia,” McDonald said.
He said GIA was working closely with government and industry partners through the ToBRFV Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP) to shape the long-term response and ensure production nurseries remain viable and informed.
“The production nursery sector plays a foundational role in Australia’s vegetable industries, providing vital planting material for growers nationwide alongside the supply into home gardens nationally,” he said.
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