Biosecurity Advisory: Brown rugose fruit virus - National Move to Management
11 June 2025
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) was first detected in South Australia (SA) in August 2024, and subsequently in Victoria in January 2025. Eradication efforts have been underway in SA and Victoria under a nationally agreed and cost shared response plan developed under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed.
On 29 May 2025, the National Management Group (NMG) agreed, based on the advice of the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP), that it was no longer technically feasible to eradicate ToBRFV from Australia.
This decision was based on a range of factors, including:
- evidence of repeated introductions of ToBRFV via the seed pathway
- challenges to find all sites where it may be present in Australia, and
- challenges in detecting the virus at the low levels of infection or in very young plants.
The eradication response is now moving to an interim planning phase to allow industry and government parties to work together to determine the best course of action. During this interim phase, biosecurity restrictions will remain on the infected properties in SA and Victoria, but there will be no mandated destruction of host material.
ToBRFV has not been detected in Tasmania and a General Biosecurity Direction (Emergency) for ToBRFVremains in place to minimise the risk of the plant disease entering Tasmania.
Biosecurity Tasmania will consult and work closely with Tasmanian industry and other jurisdictions to help prevent the virus from entering Tasmania.
ToBRFV is a highly contagious plant virus that affects tomatoes, capsicums and chillies. Infected plants show symptoms such as mosaic patterns, yellowing and deformities on leaves, while fruits develop brown wrinkled spots, deformations and uneven ripening. These symptoms result in reduced yield and marketability. The virus has no known effects on human health.
Report anything unusual immediately to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881 or contact us at biosecurity.tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au
