The (Aus) horticulture industry, government and other industry stakeholders will work together to determine an appropriate long-term management strategy and trade protocol for ToBRFV.

ToBRFV Management in Australia – What It Means for New Zealand Growers

With Australian officials now acknowledging what global experts have long known — that once Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) is established, eradication is nearly impossible — they have shifted focus to long-term management strategies in collaboration with their industry.

What does this mean for New Zealand?
It means the clock is now ticking. New Zealand tomato growers must remain vigilant and take all possible steps to delay the arrival of ToBRFV for as long as possible.

Transmission risk from other solanaceous crops remains a serious concern, and keeping the virus out of New Zealand buys critical time — time for plant breeders to develop and release suitable resistant tomato varieties.

Hygiene measures are essential.
Growers must stay on high alert:

• Ensure all crates, pallets, tools, and equipment are thoroughly cleaned before entering any greenhouse or production site.
• Educate and train all staff on hygiene protocols and the symptoms of ToBRFV.
• Implement strict biosecurity protocols, especially for staff or equipment moving between properties.

Just like COVID-19, ToBRFV may eventually arrive — but with strong collaboration between growers, industry bodies, and MPI, we can delay its arrival and minimize its impact. Every day we keep it out strengthens our preparedness.

See below:

On this page

• Current situation
• Advice for producers
• Reporting an unusual plant insect pest or disease
• Other resources

Current situation

Updated 29 May 2025

A national decision has been made that tomato brown rugose fruit virus is not technically feasible to eradicate.

The National Management Group made the decision on 29 May 2025 based on factors including evidence of repeated introductions of the virus via the seed pathway and the challenges to find all sites where it may be present in Australia. The group acknowledged that ToBRFV is difficult to detect at the low levels required for eradication, especially in seed and seedlings.

ToBRV 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, reducing their yield and marketability.

The virus has no known effects on human health.

The horticulture industry, government and other industry stakeholders will work together to determine an appropriate long-term management strategy and trade protocol for ToBRFV.

The virus was detected in tomato seedlings at a glasshouse in northern Victoria in January.  The tomato seedlings were moved there, from a known infected property in South Australia in December last year.

The Victorian glasshouse was decontaminated and replanted with seedlings from NSW. The seedlings also tested positive for the virus.

Support to people impacted by the detection is currently being coordinated by Moira Shire Council. If you require support contact the shire on 03 5871 9222.

Advice for producers

The virus spreads easily through contaminated tools, hands, clothing and direct plant to plant contact including grafting and cuttings. It can also be transmitted in seeds and irrigation water.

The virus can remain viable in seed, plant waste and contaminated soil for months and once a crop is infected, the only way to eradicate the virus is by destroying all infected plants and material.

To protect your property from this virus, producers are advised to practice good plant hygiene by:

• sourcing seed, seedlings and graft material that is free of the virus from a reliable supplier
• testing a proportion of seed and seedlings for the virus
• monitoring crops regularly for symptoms of the virus
• making sure staff and visitors comply with on-farm biosecurity and hygiene practices
• disinfecting tools, propagating material and equipment with sodium hypochlorite (1% solution of a 12% concentrate of pool chlorine). This is equal to 1 part pool chlorine to 10 parts water – or 1/3 of a cup in 1L water.
• removing self-seeded or wild tomato plants and other hosts that could act as reservoirs for the virus.

Growers are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with the symptoms of ToBRFV infection on host crops and ensure that they have effective on-farm biosecurity practices in place, especially being vigilant for any unusual signs of virus infection on host crops.

Growers are also advised to contact their seed suppliers to seek their assurance about what specific testing has been applied to lines of seeds and whether they have been appropriately tested for ToBRFV.