The ban came after NSW discovered the Ganglioneuritis virus in live abalone imports.

The infection is contagious and kills the abalone, but is not harmful to humans.

The NSW government announced the 30-day suspension yesterday, after finding the infected abalone on November 23.

Its staff tracked the abalone to a processing plant in Stanley.

Tasmanian government staff were alerted to the virus's presence at Stanley on November 16. At the time, state water and marine general manager Wes Ford said a quick response and new biosecurity measures had saved the plant from temporary closure.

Mr Green said yesterday he had asked his department to explain to its NSW counterpart the extensive measures put in place since the virus was first detected at a Bicheno abalone farm on January 16.

``I think their ban is an overreaction,'' he said.

``I'm satisfied that the biosecurity mitigation protocols put in place in regards to abalone, considering the importance of that industry to Tasmania, are sound and world's best practice.''

Mr Green said it was likely the abalone was exported to NSW before November 16.

Tasmanian Abalone Council chief executive officer Dean Lisson said he was ``confident'' that it would be resolved quickly. Opposition fisheries spokesman Rene Hidding said the state's $100 million industry couldn't afford to have products banned.

Greens primary industries spokesman Kim Booth said the ban threatened Tasmania's reputation for high-quality seafood.

Chief veterinary officer Rod Andrewartha said there was an ongoing program to manage the virus.