R&D Update - Tomato brown rugose fruit virus: Australia moves to long-term management
16 June 2025
At a glance
- National response to ToBRFV shifts from eradication to long-term management
- Decision reflects seed-borne spread, virus persistence and detection challenges
- GIA advocating for clear movement protocols to minimise disruption
- Transition to management plan now in development under the EPPRD
Australia has officially ended eradication efforts for Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), with the National Management Group confirming a shift to long-term management on 29 May 2025.
The change follows mounting evidence that eradication is unviable due to seed-borne introductions through imported seed, virus survival outside of host plants and challenges with early detection.
“The real threat of ToBRFV lies in its stealth,” said John McDonald, GIA’s Director of R&D and Biosecurity. “It can infect tomato and capsicum seed and with high sampling rates can avoid detection which will only express itself in maturing plants – you won’t see it in seedlings.”
Support for production nurseries through transition
Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) is representing the nursery sector through the ToBRFV Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP) and advocating for evidence-based, cost-effective decisions around movement protocols. The evidence is clear, seed is the critical entry pathway into Australia for ToBRFV and as testing is destructive we’ll never be able to economically close the pathway with any degree of confidence. Current import testing requires 20% of the seed lot to be destroyed for testing, this adds to the cost of all imported tomato/capsicum seed.
“The shift is necessary, but clarity around plant movement is now urgent to reduce ongoing disruption,” said Mr McDonald. “We’re working to ensure protocols support both containment and continuity of trade.
“ToBRFV is not just a tomato virus,” John added. “It’s a red flag for how fast and far plant disease can travel in today’s horticultural economy.”
What to expect
During this phase, affected businesses can expect:
- continued controls on infected sites
- no mandatory destruction of plant material
- nationally coordinated movement and trade protocols
- development of a Transition to Management Plan
- Nursery production ToBRFV Management Plan
GIA will provide regular updates as planning progresses and encourages all nurseries to remain engaged and informed.
For more information, visit www.greenlifeindustry.com.au/communications-centre/tobrfv-shift-to-management
