Biosecurity conditions imposed on potatoes exiting Tasmania by three states

New South Wales and South Australia have joined Victoria in imposing strict conditions on potatoes imported from Tasmania.

It comes after eight sites across Tasmania have been confirmed to have potato mop-top virus, following the disease's first detection in July.

TasSeed Manager Doug Clark said that South Australia and New South Wales had imposed conditions on Tasmanian potato exports entering those states as of today, while Victoria had put provisions in place earlier this week.

“With fresh market ware potatoes, the restrictions and conditions of the import permits by the different states may vary,” Mr Clark said.

“In Victoria, they’re seeking the potatoes to be dirt-free and have some area of freedom from infected properties at the moment.

“There was also a clause in there around powdery scab presence on the tuber.”

Mr Clark said there was some confusion among potato growers around what the conditions meant for them trying to send produce interstate.

“Whilst the biosecurity department in each relevant state has put out a set of terms and conditions for entry, the practical side of that at the moment is understanding from the growers’ point of view what it actually means and how that is then determined.

“At the moment, we have growers trying to ring up those individual states for clarification of what it means and they’re not always able to give a good response.”

A meeting involving industry leaders will take place on September 15, with Mr Clark saying that certified seed testing results would be back by then.

“We’ll come up with possible scenarios and action plans that we’ll take back to the industry more widely to get those actions ratified and also so growers are actually included in the decision-making process.

“At the moment, we don’t know what those results and actions look like.

“We could be talking about several small seed lines being affected or it could be seed more generally.

“We also don’t know if it’s going to be a certain area of the state or widespread throughout the state.”

Primary Industries Minister Gavin Pearce said the restrictions imposed by the three states were not a blanket ban on Tasmanian potato exports.

“As new export conditions are rolled out, we will continue to stand side by side with industry as we navigate these changes,” Mr Pearce said.

“Following yesterday’s detections, I spent the day with industry, growers, contractors, and exporters to keep them updated and listen to their concerns.

“We are taking this very seriously and our absolute focus is on supporting Tasmania’s farming communities, ensuring they have what they need so they can get on and do what they do best.

Mr Pearce said he had written to his federal counterpart Julie Collins to request an assistance package for affected farmers.

“Many countries around the world, such as New Zealand, have lived with mop-top for years now, and they have learnt to live with it.

“Our farmers are the best in the nation, dare I say the world, and I am confident we will adapt and continue to prosper.

“As our biosecurity experts continue their work, it’s important that we remain alert, but not alarmed and continue to support our farming community.”