18 April 2012
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of a draft risk analysis report to consider a proposal for the release of Eueupithecia cisplatensis for the biological control of Parkinsonia (Parkinsonia aculeata). The draft report is being issued for 60 days consultation. Written comments and submissions are invited by 18 June 2012.
Biosecurity Australia has released a draft risk analysis report assessing an application from CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences to release the defoliating caterpillar, Eueupithecia cisplatensis for the biological control of Parkinsonia (Parkinsonia aculeata). In support of this application, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences has provided a submission detailing results of host specificity testing, along with other relevant information. This submission is included as an appendix to the draft report.
CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences submitted an application for the release of the defoliating caterpillar, Eueupithecia cisplatensis in October 2011.
The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPC) has a parallel approval process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. Under Section 303EE (4) of the EPBC Act, this draft risk analysis report may be used by the responsible Minister in making a determination to include the item on the List of specimens suitable for live import (the live import list). DAFF Biosecurity has consulted with DSEWPC prior to the release of the draft report and a link will be provided on the DSEWPC website to the report.
The draft report proposes that the biological control agent should be released, subject to standard quarantine conditions associated with the import and release of biological control agents. The draft report has identified no significant off-target effects or potential consequences that would be associated with the release of Eueupithecia cisplatensis. The risk is estimated to be negligible, which meets Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP).
The draft report and information about the risk analysis process are available at www.daff.gov.au/ba. Printed copies can be provided, if required.
In accordance with the IRA handbook 2007 (updated 2009), this risk analysis has been undertaken as a non-regulated analysis of existing policy. Stakeholders will have up to 60 days to submit written comments on the draft report. Comments must be submitted by 18 June 2012 to:
Biosecurity – Plant
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA
Email:
Plant Biosecurity
Confidentiality
Stakeholders are advised that, subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1988, all submissions received in response to Biosecurity Advices will be publicly available and may be listed or referred to in any papers or reports prepared on the subject matter.
The Commonwealth of Australia reserves the right to reveal the identity of a respondent unless a request for anonymity accompanies the submission. Where a request for anonymity does not accompany the submission, the respondent will be taken to have consented to the disclosure of their identity for the purposes of Information Privacy Principle 11 of the Privacy Act 1988.
The contents of the submission will only be treated as confidential if they are marked ‘confidential’ and can be classified as such in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
[signed]
Dr Colin J Grant
First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant
Contact: Dr Kat Smith
Telephone: +61 2 6272 3933
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 3307
Email:
Plant Biosecurity
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