Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) is one of the world's worst horticultural pests. It attacks a wide range of host plants, lowering production and making fruit inedible, with severe consequences for local and international trade.
The threat of QFF is so serious that a number of QFF management zones have been established in Victoria and other states to minimise its impact.
Occurrences or ‘outbreaks’ of QFF are of major economic importance as outbreaks cause a loss of market access to other states or overseas markets. These outbreaks mean that for part of the season, affected production areas are not considered free of fruit fly. Thus fruit from the affected areas cannot be marketed readily in other states or countries that maintain very strict quarantines against Queensland fruit fly. Additional costs are then incurred through immediate fruit fly eradication campaigns and in ongoing large-scale programs to maintain area freedom and postharvest treatments.
For detailed information on Queensland Fruit Fly - checkout the LinkPak for QFF under the Resources heading.
These links contain information on the
Summary of the current situation,
Outbreak information,
Outbreak requirements,
and a State Map of Outbreaks.