Melons Australia, 20 September 2023
Dear member of the melon industry,
It is with disappointment that we pass on news regarding the status and ongoing management of the response to the Varroa mite incursion from June 2022.
The National Management Group (NMG), of which Melons Australia represents industry on, confirmed at its meeting on 19 September 2023 that eradication of Varroa destructor (varroa mite) is no longer feasible based on technical grounds, following advice from the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP).
The response will now enter a transition to management phase. The NMG acknowledged the significant and sustained efforts of the New South Wales (NSW) Government and impacted industries over the eradication response phase since June 2022 and the contribution of both government and industry representatives in guiding response activities. We confirm that our team has spent days if not weeks of time ensuring our industry is heard and engaged in the response, given the important of honey bee pollination to the Melon industry.
While a revised response plan (including transition to management activities) is being developed by the CCEPP and will then be agreed to by the NMG, NSW will operate under an interim strategy to limit the impacts and slow the spread of varroa mite. The NSW Department of Primary Industries, AHBIC and other impacted industry groups will be communicating with beekeepers and businesses relying on pollination services currently impacted by the response program around all changes to requirements.
Varroa mite remains a key threat to Australia’s honey and honey bee pollination plant industries, and it is important that government and industry continue to work together to manage this pest.
The NMG will meet again in the coming weeks to consider further technical advice from the CCEPP on options for the ongoing management of varroa mite in Australia.
We will keep you updated as information becomes available regarding the management plan moving forward. As was outlined at the Melons Australia AGM, we continue to advocate for continued pollination services, while ensuring the response is as efficient and effective as possible for industry. Please feel confident that Melons Australia (as members of both the CCEPP and the NMG) will be involved in forming the next stage of the management plan making sure that the interests of the melon industry are best represented.
