National Meeting Sets Direction for PMTV Management

Potato growers and industry representatives from across Australia have provided their views on the national approach to managing Potato mop-top virus (PMTV), following a major government–industry meeting in Melbourne convened by AUSVEG on Tuesday.

More than 50 growers, industry leaders and state and federal biosecurity officials attended the meeting - which was held to ensure growers’ concerns are recognised as Australia transitions from emergency response to ongoing management of the virus.

PMTV was first detected on a farm in North-West Tasmania in July 2025, and in the weeks following, more and more cases were reported across the state. While the disease poses no risk to humans, it can cause significant yield and quality reductions in affected potatoes.

Aside from one scare where the virus was detected in stored seed potatoes in Victoria - which were swiftly and safely destroyed - so far PMTV has been contained to Tasmania, with restrictions remaining in place on the movement of potatoes to the mainland.

In September, it was deemed that eradication of the disease is not technically feasible, and as a result, Biosecurity Tasmania has been winding down its formal response, with responsibility for managing the virus transitioning to that of the industry.

Tuesday's meeting recorded strong support for a harmonised national approach to testing, surveillance and monitoring. Attendees also backed establishing a working group of regulators and industry representatives, and progressing work towards a unified national seed certification system.

AUSVEG CEO Michael Coote said growers were clear about the need for coordinated action.

“We cannot afford to drop our guard, and a coordinated national effort is needed to facilitate ongoing trade while containing and mitigating the risk of further spread,” he said.

“As the approach to managing the virus nationally continues, it will be crucial for all state and federal biosecurity agencies and regulators to continue working cooperatively and collaboratively with the entire potato production sector to ensure the concerns and needs of Australia’s potato growers are heard, and the integrity of the national industry protected.”