31 July 2025
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the draft risk analysis report for the proposed release of the leaf spot pathogen, Neoramulariopsis unguis-cati for the biological control of the weed, cat’s claw creeper (Dolichandra unguis-cati).
This draft report proposes that the biological control agent should be permitted to be released, subject to standard import and release conditions associated with exotic biological control agents.
The draft report is being issued for a 30 calendar day public consultation period, closing on 29 August 2025.
We invite you to have your say on the draft report. We will consider all stakeholder comments received during the consultation period in preparing a final report.
The draft report proposes that the biological control agent, Neoramulariopsis unguis-cati, should be permitted to be released to control the weed, cat’s claw creeper (Dolichandra unguis-cati). The risk is estimated to be Negligible, which achieves Australia’s Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP).
The applicant, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (QDPI), provided a submission in support of their application to release the biological control agent. The submission detailed the results of host-specificity testing, together with other relevant information. This submission is included as an attachment to the draft report.
The standard consultation period for biological control risk analyses is 30 days, which differs from the standard period of 60 calendar days for other risk analyses. This is because the department has consulted extensively with all state and territory governments, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and there was no opposition to the release of Neoramulariopsis unguis-cati as a biological control agent. This approach is consistent with the Revised guidelines for the introduction of exotic biological control agents for the control of weeds and plant pests.
The draft report and information about the risk analysis process are available online.
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.
Dr Peter Finnin
A/g 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