Legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables on Auckland's North Shore will remain in place for the next few weeks as part of the response to the discovery of a single male Oriental fruit fly last month, says Biosecurity New Zealand. To date, no other Oriental fruit flies have been found in surveillance traps since the original find on February 20.
"We've had fantastic support from the Birkdale community and sector groups to date, and we're asking for that to continue a little longer out of an abundance of caution. It is vital to our success in keeping fruit fly from establishing in New Zealand," said Biosecurity New Zealand's commissioner north, Mike Inglis.
"We'll continue to regularly check fruit fly traps, and specialist staff in our mobile field laboratory will cut up and inspect fruit and vegetables collected in the area for any signs of larvae."
Inglis said restrictions will remain in place until April 10.
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