New arrangement for protected cropping available

7 January 2026

Agriculture Victoria introduced a new procedure on 5 January  to provide a new option for interstate trading of produce from protected cropping systems: Pest Free Production Site for Tomato Potato Psyllid (PS–66).

Victoria’s Chief Plant Health Officer, Dr Rosa Crnov, said recent detections of tomato potato psyllid led to new interstate movement restrictions, which started on 8 December 2025.

‘We have developed 13 procedures for Victorian growers to maintain market access and issued 326 certificates of accreditation. This enables quick responses to market demand, reduces delays, and ensures compliance with interstate movement rules.’

‘The new procedure will help businesses demonstrate property freedom from tomato potato psyllid (TPP) and maintain interstate market access following recent detections,’ Dr Crnov said.

‘The new Pest Free Production Site procedure provides protected cropping growers with an additional accredited pathway to continue trading into Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania.’ Dr Crnov said.

‘We’re working closely with industry to minimise disruption and ensure growers understand the surveillance, trapping, monitoring and auditing requirements needed to meet interstate biosecurity rules.’

As part of the Victorian Government’s Drought Support Package, fees for plant biosecurity services related to TPP, including application fees, audits and nonconformance reports are waived until 30 June 2026.

TPP (Bactericera cockerelli) is a small sapsucking insect that affects solanaceous crops including tomato, potato, eggplant, capsicum and chilli. While TPP can transmit the serious plant disease ‘zebra chip’ when infected with the CLso bacterium, CLso has not been detected in Victoria or anywhere in Australia.

Victorian producers and home gardeners are encouraged to monitor crops and report any suspect detections. Reports can be made:

For more information about TPP, visit our tomato potato psyllid page.

Media contact: media@deeca.vic.gov.au