13 June 2024
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Final report for a review of pest risk assessments for spider mites (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae).
The department undertakes risk analyses to consider market access requests for fresh fruit commodities for human consumption from trading partners. Many of these risk analyses include pest risk assessments for spider mites of the family Tetranychidae.
We have identified that, in some cases, different risk ratings were assigned to spider mite pests that share similar biological characteristics and are expected to pose similar biosecurity risks.
Therefore, we initiated this review to examine and evaluate all previous pest risk assessments for spider mite pests to determine whether the different ratings are justified and, if not, propose a solution.
The final report takes into account comments received from stakeholders on the draft report released on 14 November 2023.
We released the draft report for public consultation on 14 November 2023 (via Biosecurity Advice 2023-P10). Comments from stakeholders on the draft report were taken into consideration in preparing the final report.
This report focuses on the review of all previous pest risk assessments conducted on species of Tetranychidae, commonly referred to as spider mites or tetranychids.
The review uses a similar method to the department’s Group Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) approach to examine and evaluate the previous likelihood and consequence assessments.
Through the examination and evaluation of evidence presented in 21 risk analyses, Australian interception data and the latest scientific information, this review confirms that most previously assigned ratings for spider mite pests are appropriate, however some need adjustment. The review proposes adjusting some of the previously assigned ratings to reflect evidence now available and/or to align with species sharing similar biological characteristics and having a similar level of biosecurity risk.
The application of the proposed ratings would result in changes to the unrestricted risk estimate outcome for tetranychid species from achieving to not achieving the appropriate level of protection (ALOP) for Australia on 3 commodity/country pathways, and from not achieving to achieving the ALOP for Australia on 6 pathways. Implementation of these changes is not expected to have significant impact on the overall risk management measures for these pathways. This is because the pathways also require risk management measures for other pests, such as mealybugs and thrips, that are the same as the measures for spider mites.
It is important to note that implementation of the changes recommended in the final report will be undertaken on a case-by-case basis for specific pathways in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The final report and more information about this risk analysis are available on our website.
We invite stakeholders interested in receiving information and updates on biosecurity risk analyses to subscribe via our online subscription service. By subscribing to ‘Biosecurity Risk Analysis Plant’, you will receive Biosecurity Advices and other notifications relating to plant biosecurity policy, including this risk analysis.
Monica Collins
First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division
Telephone: 1800 900 090 (when prompted select option 1, then option 1)
Email: imports@aff.gov.au