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Fruit fly restrictions for growers and producers

Growers and producers must understand the rules and conditions to follow for restricted fruit and vegetables that they grow, sell, or pack.

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Movement controls

Controls are in place for moving restricted produce in fruit fly outbreak areas. Industry use different zone names than the public to identify these areas:

Vineyards and wineries in a Riverland Controlled Movement Zone must comply with the guidelines that have been developed with Vinehealth Australia: Managing Riverland vineyards inside Queensland fruit fly outbreak areas 2022–23 (PDF 707.6 KB).

Growers and producers within a Corrective Action Zone cannot move restricted fruit and vegetables from any property without PIRSA approving it first.

This includes if you're sending to a packing shed, treatment facility, or non-sensitive market.

Growers and producers within an Export Assurance Zone can move without restrictions in that EAZ if sending to a packing shed or treatment facility.

Before selling your produce within the area, or removing it from the EAZ, PIRSA must approve it – you may be required to apply an approved treatment.

CMZ controls

Vineyards and wineries in a Riverland Controlled Movement Zone must comply with the guidelines that have been developed with Vinehealth Australia: Managing Riverland vineyards inside Queensland fruit fly outbreak areas 2022–23 (PDF 707.6 KB).

CAZ controls

Growers and producers within a Corrective Action Zone cannot move restricted fruit and vegetables from any property without PIRSA approving it first.

This includes if you're sending to a packing shed, treatment facility, or non-sensitive market.

EAZ controls

Growers and producers within an Export Assurance Zone can move without restrictions in that EAZ if sending to a packing shed or treatment facility.

Before selling your produce within the area, or removing it from the EAZ, PIRSA must approve it – you may be required to apply an approved treatment.

Check the outbreak map to see if your business is in an affected area, and the current end dates for outbreaks restrictions.

Moving restricted items during an outbreak

Restrictions can vary according to:

  • where your restricted fruit and vegetables are grown and packed
  • locations of markets you are selling to
  • travel routes used.

You must apply the movement controls before moving restricted fruit and vegetables. Learn about the requirements you need to follow.

Timeframes for restrictions

Domestically, the area freedom status is reinstated once the eradication program has been completed, and restrictions have lifted. The receiving market decides reinstatement.

Once restrictions are lifted, PIRSA will notify accredited businesses as to which markets are again accepting the area free status.

Costs of outbreak restrictions

PIRSA has waived the costs associated with accreditation, certification, inspections, and audits during the current fruit fly outbreaks for businesses that are directly impacted by the restrictions.

Although PIRSA is not passing on any costs, the business may experience costs associated with:

  • applying required treatments
  • arranging secure transport
  • any other required changes to their established processes.

Areas not affected by fruit fly

If you're sending fruit and vegetables interstate from outside the CMZ, you won't need to apply any additional treatments. Your fruit and vegetables can only travel through fruit fly affected areas if you meet secure conditions.

There may be other requirements for sending produce interstate for other pests and diseases. Find out more by contacting either:

For produce exported internationally from unaffected parts of the Riverland Pest Free Area, the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry may require an accompanying Property Freedom Certificate issued by PIRSA.

Contact the Fruit Fly Industry Hotline early as these certificates may take a couple of days to be processed.

More information

What to do about fruit fly – industry, retailers, and wholesalers

Call the Fruit Fly Industry Hotline

Contact us to help your business with market access and outbreak restrictions.

Call 1800 255 556
Page Last Reviewed: 26 Mar 2025

 


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