MPI must identify Fruit Fly pathway urgently

With so many economic eggs in the primary production basket, we can’t afford biosecurity lapses, the Green Party said today.

A Queensland fruit fly was found in a surveillance trap yesterday in Whangarei and the Ministry for Primary Industries is planning controls on movement of fruit and vegetables in the area.

“The Government must move urgently to identify the entry point, and reassure growers that it has this latest incursion contained,” Green Party biosecurity spokesperson Steffan Browning said today.

“We need to know if this has arisen through a fast track passenger, or via commercial fruit and produce importation.

“With a changing climate it is even more important to have stringent biosecurity controls.

“A smart green economy relies on strong biosecurity controls and responses,” said Mr Browning.

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