24 October 2025
Indonesia requested Australia consider an alternative phytosanitary measure to manage the quarantine pests (ants, mealybugs and spider mites) associated with imported fresh mangosteen fruit for human consumption.
As a member of the World Trade Organization, Australia is obliged to consider requests for equivalent, alternative phytosanitary measures. We have conducted an assessment to determine whether Indonesia’s proposal of an alternative systems approach using high pressure air will manage the biosecurity risks to achieve the appropriate level of protection (ALOP) for Australia.
The assessment concluded that an alternative systems approach can be used which does not involve the use of methyl bromide fumigation. However, additional risk mitigation measures are required within the proposed systems approach. We recommend that an enhanced systems approach, combined with an operational system will reduce the risk of the targeted quarantine pests (spider mites, mealybugs and ants) on fresh mangosteen fruit from Indonesia to achieve Australia's ALOP.
The recommended risk mitigation measures of the enhanced systems approach include:
- in field pest monitoring and control
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and crop hygiene practices implemented in the orchard
- pest traps implemented in field and at collection houses and packing houses
- preliminary clean of each individual fruit using high pressure air or any other effective method prior to fruit arriving at the packing house
- a second clean of each individual fruit at the packing house using high pressure air supplemented with brushing, if needed
- examination of fruit after cleaning to ensure the cleaning process was effective and the fruit is free of pests, and if pests found, recleaning and checking of fruit.
For information on the 2012 mangosteen from Indonesia risk analysis, visit our website.
The changes to import conditions will take effect from 24 October 2025.
Updated import conditions are now available on our Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).
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Dr Peter Finnin
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