SA citrus growers fear fallout from VIC fruit fly decision

South Australian citrus growers are concerned about a Victorian Government decision to cease fruit fly eradication efforts.

The Victorian Department of Primary Industries says it is no longer economically viable to try to eradicate the pest and it will now just manage it.

The chairman of Citrus Australia's state committee, Con Poulos, says it has been expressing its concerns about the issue to BioSecurity SA since last year.

"The responses addressed our concerns and they explained that they do spend $5 million per year roughly on fruit fly which is their biggest budget within BioSecurity," he said.

"The message we got back to them is they acknowledge the threat might be increasing but they're pretty happy with what programs they've got in place in South Australia.

"Biosecurity do a great job but if we could get more funding and increase what they're doing then obviously if there is an increased threat then we're fighting it.

"Guys like the stone fruit guys would almost lose the whole season if an outbreak occurred during their picking season.

"It is a concern. We think it's going to increase the pressure on fruit fly heading into South Australia."

Ninety-five per cent of Victoria's fruit production zones are now affected by outbreaks but the Sunraysia district remains fruit fly free.

Source: ABC News, 24 July 2013