Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone described the number of motorists flouting biosecurity laws as alarming, saying they were putting our world-class horticultural industry at risk.
The quarantine on interstate fruit is intended to protect South Australias horticulture industry from the threat of fruit flies. Picture: AAP / Matt LoxtonSource:News Corp Australia
Almost one in seven vehicles stopped at a random roadblock in Bordertown last weekend were found with fruit and prohibited material, Mr Whetstone said.
In total, 124 kilograms of prohibited fruit was seized and securely disposed of by Biosecurity SA staff during last weekends roadblock.
The Government in January announced it was cracking down on motorists bringing fruit into the state, declaring those caught would not longer receive a caution but would instead be slapped with a $375 fine.
The zero tolerance policy aimed to protect SAs $1.2 billion horticulture industry and was in response to an outbreak of Queensland fruit fly in Loxton in December."