Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Minister
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Plant health
    • Drought and rural support
    • Mouse infestation advice
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade Lowering biosecurity risks to Australia, and assisting industry to accelerate growth towards a $100 billion agricultural sector by 2030.
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2023-24

    Budget 2023-24

    The 2023–24 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 9 May 2023.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Import
  4. Importing goods
  5. External Territories
  6. Norfolk Island produce
  7. Risk assessment - fresh root crops

Sidebar first - Import

  • Norfolk Island produce
    • Risk assessment-fresh apples and pears
    • Risk assessment-fresh asparagus
    • Risk assessment-fresh beans and snowpeas
    • Risk assessment-fresh blueberries
    • Risk assessment-fresh broccoli and cauliflower
    • Risk assessment-fresh citrus fruits
    • Risk assessment-fresh fleshy vegetables
    • Risk assessment-fresh kiwifruit
    • Risk assessment-fresh leafy vegetables
    • Risk assessment-fresh mangoes
    • Risk assessment-fresh melons
    • List of permitted species of mushrooms and truffles
    • Risk assessment-fresh pineapples
    • Risk assessment-fresh root crops
    • Risk assessment-fresh stone fruits
    • Risk assessment-fresh strawberries and raspberries
    • Risk assessment-fresh table grapes

Risk assessment – fresh root crops (beetroot, carrot, celeriac, ginger, radish, swede, turnip) for human consumption into Norfolk Island from mainland Australia

Australia and Norfolk Island biosecurity policy framework

Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, the Australian Commonwealth is responsible for maintaining the plant biosecurity of Norfolk Island. Australia’s biosecurity policies aim to prevent exotic pests from entering, establishing and spreading on the island. Such incursions may threaten Norfolk Island’s unique flora and fauna and, in turn, the tourist and agricultural businesses of the island that depend on a relatively pest-free environment.

The Pest Risk Area to which these conditions apply is the Norfolk Island group. The Norfolk Island group (-29°02’S 167°57’E) is an external Australian territory situated approximately 1400 km due east of Evans Head on the eastern seaboard of the Australian mainland. The biota of this island group is distinct from Australia and other countries. It is comprised of three small islands, the inhabited main island—Norfolk Island, with two smaller uninhabited islands—Nepean Island, 1 km to the south, and Philip Island 6 km to the south. Norfolk and Philip Islands are the weathered remnants of volcanoes on the Norfolk Ridge linking New Caledonia and New Zealand. Soils are uniformly deep volcanic overlying basalt. Norfolk Island is the largest of the Norfolk Island group at 32 km2. It has a subtropical climate with an average rainfall of around 1300 mm per year (falling throughout the year but mostly in June and July) and an average temperature range of 12-20 °C in winter and 19-25 °C in summer. Pre-European settlement, vegetation of the island comprised subtropical rainforest consisting primarily of Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island pine). However, this native vegetation has largely been cleared, with remaining vegetation now mostly conserved in Norfolk Island National Park (approximately 462 ha, including Philip and Nepean Islands). The remainder of the island is rural to rural-residential, with cattle grazing and fruit and vegetable production the main land-based rural industries.

The plant biosecurity pest status of Norfolk Island is known due to a recent survey (2012-2014), which provides a comprehensive biosecurity dataset for the whole island.

The biota of Norfolk Island comprises approximately 566 vascular plant species (430 introduced), 116 bird species (including 11 introduced and 66 vagrant species), many invertebrates (more than 1200 species) as well as 10 introduced mammal species and plant pathogens. It is biologically distinct from the rest of Australia (including Tasmania), where the predominant floral species are members of the Myrtaceae family. Norfolk Island does not contain any native Myrtaceae species. Norfolk Island’s isolation means that there are species endemic to this island group, occurring nowhere else in the world, which could be threatened by pest incursions.

The risk analysis process is an important part of Australia’s biosecurity policies. Risk analyses are conducted by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry by technical and scientific experts. The process enables the Australian Government to consider the risks that could be associated with imported products entering Norfolk Island from the mainland and other countries. If the risks exceed Australia’s (including Norfolk Island) appropriate level of protection (ALOP), risk management measures are imposed to reduce the risks to an acceptable level. The Biosecurity Act 2015 defines Australia’s ALOP as ‘a high level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection aimed at reducing biosecurity risks to a very low level, but not to zero’. This approach is consistent with the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement).

Australia expresses its ALOP in qualitative terms. In determining and maintaining the ALOP for Norfolk Island, the scientific risk assessment process cannot take into account the potential economic impact or the effect on market competition caused by importing goods, as this would not be consistent with Australia’s international trade obligations, nor within the remit of the Act.

Policies and import conditions are designed to protect the environment of Norfolk Island by preventing the introduction of exotic pests to the island, thereby keeping biosecurity risks off shore. Products from locations external to the Norfolk Island group need to be free of exotic pests in order to satisfy the conditions for entry into Norfolk Island. However, in considering import conditions for Norfolk Island, the department has determined it will not knowingly take action that would impact, either positively or negatively, on the current biosecurity status of Norfolk Island. The baseline for this position is the 2012-14 Norfolk Island pest and disease survey.

Import conditions for all fresh fruit and vegetables for human consumption into Norfolk Island from mainland Australia

All plants and plant products for human consumption that are to be imported into Norfolk Island are subject to general conditions that must be met. Certain goods may also be subject to specific additional conditions, where this is necessary to manage any biosecurity risks not addressed by the general conditions.

In this risk assessment, mainland Australia includes all Australian states and territories on the mainland and the state of Tasmania.

General conditions:

  • Consignments must be free of plant biosecurity risk materials including live quarantine pests, trash and contaminants.
  • Trash includes any material other than the root crops, for example splinter, twig, leaf material, seeds, soil, animal matter/parts or other extraneous material.
  • Prior to shipping to Norfolk Island, consignments must be verified by appropriate official government inspections, documentation, systems, reporting and certification to be free of any signs of biosecurity risk material. If required, appropriate pre-export measures (such as reconditioning or treatment) must be applied to mitigate the biosecurity risks with appropriate official government checks at the completion of the reconditioning or treatment.
  • Consignments must be packed in clean and new bags/boxes/containers. Imports are permitted for human consumption only.
  • Upon arrival on Norfolk Island, consignments are to be presented to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Biosecurity Officer for inspection and verification prior to release, therefore packaging must be suitable for opening to allow inspection. The presence of any biosecurity risk material will necessitate remedial actions. Remedial action options include: treatment, where this is available, re-export or destruction.

Risk background - Root crops:

The root crops included in this assessment are beetroot, carrot, celeriac, ginger, radish, swede and turnip. These root crops have been grouped together for the purposes of this assessment because of their similarities in growing characteristics, production methods, and they have very similar biosecurity risks that are inherent in root type vegetables. The following common elements support this position:

  • The biosecurity risks (arthropods and diseases) are predominantly associated with soil and soil borne pests.
  • Each product is easy to inspect for soil and exogenous material that might adhere to the surface of the product. Also, inspection techniques require any evidence of infection or infestation to be examined more closely by cutting produce open and inspecting thoroughly.
  • Washing is a common measure that is an effective way to remove soil and soil borne contaminants. All of the products can be washed without any adverse effect.
  • Each product must have all foliage and feeder roots removed – thus removing any biosecurity risks that are associated with these plant parts.

This assessment is informed by published information, risk analyses, technical market access submissions and extensive import and export history.

The information shows that the majority of pest groups present on fresh root crops are nematodes, mites, beetles, flies, and to a lesser degree ants, aphids, midges and springtails, some disease symptoms.

This assessment has not attempted to distinguish between pests that are present on the mainland but which may not be present on Norfolk Island. The conditions require that fresh root crops must be free of all quarantine pests and other biosecurity risk material. Of particular concern for products that grow below the surface is the potential presence of soil and soil borne pests such as nematodes, and other contaminants.

Specific conditions for the importation of fresh root crops for human consumption from mainland Australia to Norfolk Island under the Biosecurity Act 2015.

  1. A valid import permit is required. Note: the import permit must be obtained from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry prior to the produce arriving in Norfolk Island.
  2. All general conditions fresh fruit and vegetables for human consumption into Norfolk Island from mainland Australia must be met.
  3. Consignments must be commercially packed in clean new packaging. Each consignment must be secured (i.e. made insect proof) prior to shipment to maintain its quarantine integrity on arriving using a secure packaging option. The packages must be clearly labelled with the kind of produce, the name of the grower or packer, and information that enables verification against accompanying documentation.
  4. The product/s must be trimmed to remove the foliage and roots, and washed to remove soil and other exogenous material.
  5. The consignment must be free from live quarantine arthropods, visual symptoms of quarantine diseases and other biosecurity risk material.
  6. Each consignment must be accompanied by certification issued by a state/territory plant health certification authority, or through the Interstate Certification Assurance scheme (where appropriate). Certification must state:
    1. ‘The [produce] in the consignment have been inspected and meet the conditions for import into Norfolk Island.’
  7. Upon arrival on Norfolk Island, consignments must be inspected by a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry biosecurity officer prior to release, therefore packaging must be suitable for opening to allow inspection. The presence of quarantine pests and/or other biosecurity risk material will necessitate remedial actions. Remedial action options include: treatment, where this is available, re-export or destruction.

A summary of import conditions and commercial production practices, which reflect the demonstrated ability to manage and detect all of the target pests is shown in Table 1 - Managed pathway for fresh root crop from mainland Australia to Norfolk Island.

Root crops

Managed pathway for the export of fresh root crops from mainland Australia to Norfolk Island under the authority of the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Biosecurity Act 2015.

Target pests: see Table 1.

Weed seeds: actionable.

Regulated articles:

  • Packaging – must be clean and new.
  • Trash – splinter, twig, leaf material, seeds, soil, animal matter/parts or other extraneous material.
Table 1 – managed pathway for melons from mainland Australia to Norfolk Island
Pathway element Target risk/pest Risk management action Critical control points Risk visible
[Yes/No]
Verification action Evidence
Standard commercial practice Arthropods, fungi, Molluscs, nematodes, weeds, soil-borne pathogens Pest management systems, including crop monitoring, inspection, chemical and/or biological control.

Cultivation and weed management.

Official trapping and/or surveillance program for specific pests, where required
Regular inspections

Inspections after adverse weather events

Recommended spray program and/or biological  control program

Maintain good sanitation
Yes/No Staff and supervisor roles and responsibilities

Treatment/s applied per label

Training / Expertise
Grower records and spray diaries

Supervision
Harvesting Free of pests and disease Removal of non-compliant product

Product not left exposed to reinfestation
Inspection at harvest Yes Staff training / expertise Quality control
Product grading Trash and contaminants

live arthropods

Rots and disease symptoms

Discolouration and deformities

Any signs of damage
All produce is washed

Removal of diseased, damaged and infested goods

Produce cut and examined as necessary
Unacceptable product removed by trained staff Yes Entity Quality controls and quality assurance processes Check of grading line, packed produce and cull pile
Inspection and Certification Arachnida, Chilopoda, Collembola, Diplopoda, Insecta, Oligochaeta, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Urediniomycetes, Gastropoda, Secernentea, trash and contaminants

Other pests if present
Inspect, reject, treat non-conforming product (as appropriate)

Verify official survey records, where required
Produce is free of target pests, trash and contaminants

Free of target pests

Meet the conditions for import into Norfolk Island, including treatments for specific pests, where required.

Where required, treatment applied to produce consistent with application standard

Rejected goods segregated and identified

Packaging is appropriate
Yes Inspection by Commonwealth, or state or territory plant health certification authority Plant Health certificate, Phytosanitary certificate, or Plant Health Assurance certificate

Treatment certificate
Post entry verification Biosecurity risk material, including quarantine pests, trash and contaminants Inspect to ensure import conditions are met

Goods are as described and comply with certification
600 unit inspection using standard process All pests visible

Packaging compliance evident

Product aligns with certification
Inspection completed by competent officers Competency assessment against department standard
Figure 1 – diagram showing the biosecurity risks of fresh rootcrops from mainland Australia to Norfolk Island and the export pathway, production practices and regulatory steps taken to reduce biosecurity risks to very low.
The photo depicts a visual graphic that explains the biosecurity risks posed by rootcrops imported into Norfolk Island from the Australian mainland. The risks are depicted as going from a high risk during production, harvest and packing to a low risk upon export and a very low risk upon import and release.    The key depicts the following components: the export pathway, production practices and regulatory steps.    The export pathway includes production, harvest, packing, export, import and release.    The production pathway identifies production practices including crop management, pest/disease control, weed control, and monitor and spray records.    The harvest pathway identifies harvest practices including cull non-compliance product, and limit exposure to pest infestation    The packing pathway identifies packing practices including washing, grading, sanitation, top and tail (waste removed) and inspection and quality checking, packaging and treatment.    The export pathway identifies clean, new robust and secure packaging and labelling.    The regulatory controls for the export pathway include state and interstate certification assurance inspection, verification that all import conditions are met, certification and rejection of non-compliant goods.    The import pathway identifies import practices including packaging clean, new robust, labelling and segregation of goods. The regulatory steps for the import pathway includes inspection by Department of Agriculture and Water Resources    The release pathway does not have any production practices or regulatory steps identified.
​

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 11 November 2022

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.