From October 1, Biosecurity Tasmania has advised restrictions will be lifted to allow untreated fruit to be moved and sold within the 15-kilometre control zones in the North and North-West of the state.

However, existing control measures will stay in place for properties within the 1.5-kilometre infected area where fruit fly was originally found in January.

Primary Industries minister Sarah Courtney said the major step would provide relief for many growers.

“What this is going to do as we come into the next growing season is to be able to support those growers to be able to get that fruit to market,” she said.

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“By allowing trading of fruit within the control zone, this will open up opportunities for those businesses to be able to trade in the upcoming season.

“We really do thank the public for their role. The public has played a really critical role throughout the fruit fly situation to be able to help us, help the growers, help the industry, and retain our pest free status as soon as possible.”

Ms Courtney said she remained confident the control zone restrictions would be lifted on January 9, 2019.

She wished to remind the community the movement of fruit from inside to outside of the control zone is still not allowed, unless the fruit has been treated and packed under the required protocols.