DPI has declared a 15 km suspension zone in Sunraysia following the detection of a Queensland fruit fly in Mildura.

DPI senior market access officer Gary D'Arcy said because Mildura was a major fruit production area and was situated within the Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area, it was critical that the pest was eradicated as soon as possible to minimise the impact on fruit industries within the zone.

Following the declaration, all host fruit will need to be certified under a DPI arrangement prior to leaving the 15 km suspension zone and moving to other Victorian markets and sensitive interstate markets.

An eradication program will begin within a 1.5 km radius of the detection site in Cureton Ave, Mildura.