The Western Australia state government has succeeded in regaining market access for its potatoes, following the detection of tomato potato psyllid in February 2017. Access for seed and ware potatoes has been re-established to every jurisdiction, after South Australia agreed to allow WA potato imports this week.
Extensive surveillance and testing of more than 10,000 psyllids for the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) was completed over three growing seasons to confirm the bacteria was not present in Australia.
Western Australia met the national surveillance requirements to demonstrate absence of the bacteria in WA, and an area freedom certificate for the State was issued in August 2018.
A recent spring surveillance round tested 1,575 psyllids with no detection of CLso, with further surveillance to be undertaken in autumn. Ongoing surveillance in WA will be required.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will be working with industry to assess options for these ongoing surveillance activities.
Source: farmweekly.com.au
