Legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables on Auckland’s North Shore will remain in place for the next few weeks as part of the response to the discovery of a single male Oriental fruit fly last month, says Biosecurity New Zealand’s commissioner north, Mike Inglis.

"We’ve had fantastic support from the Birkdale community and sector groups to date, and we’re asking for that to continue a little longer out of an abundance of caution. It is vital to our success in keeping fruit fly from establishing in New Zealand," Mr Inglis says.

"To date, no other Oriental fruit flies have been found in surveillance traps since the original find on 20 February, which is encouraging.

"We’ll continue to regularly check fruit fly traps, and specialist staff in our mobile field laboratory will cut up and inspect fruit and vegetables collected in the area for any signs of larvae."

Mr Inglis says it’s anticipated the restrictions will remain in place until 10 April.

"This is so we can be confident that we are not dealing with a breeding population.This timeframe is based on scientific advice about the life cycle of the Oriental fruit fly.”

There is no change to the current movement rules that are in place. The A and B Zone areas in Birkdale will remain the same and the instructions on the disposal of produce waste remain unchanged.More detail on these zones is on our website: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/fruitfly.

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"Those legal controls prohibit the movement of fruit and vegetables out of the specified controlled area around where the fruit fly was found. The restrictions are a critical precaution to protect our horticultural sector and exports," Mr Inglis says.

"There have been 13 previous fruit fly incursions in New Zealand which we have successfully eradicated, so we have very strong and detailed operational plans to guide our work.

"The fruit fly poses no risk to human health, but there would be an economic cost to the horticulture industry if it were allowed to establish here."

To report suspected finds of fruit fly, call MPI’s pest and diseases hotline on 0800 80 99 66.

Media queries to media@mpi.govt.nz

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