What is the Government doing to prevent fruit fly establishing in South Australia?
Since 1897, the South Australian Government has had a policy of acting on behalf of the community in: • Preventing the introduction of fruit fly by requiring all commercial shipments of fruit to be free of fruit fly, and by restrictions on fruit carried by travellers. • Detecting and eradicating any fruit flies which have been introduced in fruit by thoughtless travellers. Although fruit fly prevention and eradication is controlled by law (Fruit & Plant Protection Act 1992), this legislation cannot be fully effective without the cooperation of the South Australian community. The partnership has been effective in keeping South Australia free of fruit fly for over 100 years. Major benefits of the program are seen by household fruit and vegetable growers and South Australia’s commercial producers, through reduced insecticide use and therefore cost savings, when compared to areas of Australia where fruit fly is established.