Fresh cut flowers and foliage have been imported into Australia on a commercial basis for about 50 years. With this trade comes the potential to introduce unwanted pests and diseases into Australia.
In 2017, we conducted a review of import conditions for fresh cut flowers and foliage following an analysis of inspection records. The inspection records showed high rates of pest detections on large numbers of consignments of imported fresh cut flowers and foliage at the Australian border. In addition, some countries that export fresh cut flowers and foliage to Australia were found to have inspection failure rates of more than 50%.
As a result of the 2017 review, we amended the import conditions for fresh cut flowers and foliage. The revised conditions came into effect on 1 March 2018.
We initiated a pest risk analysis (PRA) for the cut flower and foliage pathway to:
- assess the biosecurity risks posed by key pest groups associated with cut flowers and foliage imports to Australia
- determine whether the introduction of the current import conditions managed the biosecurity risks to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia.
The PRA is being conducted in three parts:
- Part 1 – thrips, aphids and mites (completed)
- Part 2 – other arthropod pests (completed)
- Part 3 – bacteria, viruses and fungi (in progress)
Parts 1 and 2 of the PRA collectively assessed 842 arthropod pests associated with the cut flower pathway. At the time, 514 were found to be quarantine pests for Australia.
Since the introduction of revised import conditions in 2018 and the publication of Parts 1 and 2 of the PRA, we have observed a 70% reduction in the rate of detections of quarantine pests in imported fresh cut flowers and foliage.
We have completed Part 1 of the pest risk analysis for cut flower and foliage imports.
About the pest risk analysis
We initiated this pest risk analysis to assess the biosecurity risks posed by pests associated with cut flowers and foliage imports to Australia, and determine whether the introduction of revised import conditions manages the biosecurity risks to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia.
Part 1 of the pest risk analysis assessed the three main pest groups that have been intercepted at the Australian border on imported cut flowers and foliage – thrips, mites and aphids.
Final report
Summary of the final report
We recommend phytosanitary measures to manage the biosecurity risks posed by thrips, mites and aphids.
These phytosanitary measures are suitable to manage the biosecurity risks, to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia. Import permits may be required in certain circumstances.
Pests
There are 259 species of thrips, mites and aphids, known to be associated with imported cut flowers and foliage.
Of the 259 species, 84 species of thrips, 47 species of mites and 21 species of aphids are identified as quarantine pests and/or regulated articles because they can vector viruses that are quarantine pests for Australia (e.g., orthotospoviruses). These species require phytosanitary measures to manage the biosecurity risks they pose for Australia.
An additional 32 species of aphids are identified as potential regulated articles because they can vector viruses that are quarantine pests for Australia (e.g. Plum pox virus). These aphid species will be regulated at the Australian border.
Risk management measures
Pre-export
Before cut flowers and foliage are exported to Australia, the exporting country must use one of three arthropod pest management options:
- NPPO-approved systems approach, or
- Pre-export methyl bromide fumigation, or
- NPPO-approved alternative pre-export disinfestation treatment.
In addition, the exporting country must ensure there are no live pests in the consignment. This is verified by the exporting country National Plant Protection Organisation’s (NPPO) pre-export visual inspection and remedial action if live pests are found.
In circumstances of changing biosecurity risk, permits may be required to import cut flowers and foliage imports.
On-arrival at Australian border
When consignments arrive at the Australian border, they will be:
- Visually inspected to verify that the biosecurity status of cut flowers and foliage meets Australia’s import conditions.
- Released if arthropod pests are unregulated (not of biosecurity concern), subject to freedom from other contaminants and pathogens.
- Treated if arthropod pests are identified as regulated (of biosecurity concern), or if the consignment does not meet Australia’s import conditions.
Download final report
Department of Agriculture, June 2019
Final pest risk analysis for cut flower and foliage imports – Part 1 (PDF 3.1 MB)
Final pest risk analysis for cut flower and foliage imports – Part 1 (DOCX 1.9 MB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Announcement
We announced the commencement of Part 1 of the pest risk analysis on 11 July 2018 (Biosecurity Advice 2018-12).
We have completed Part 2 of the pest risk analysis for cut flower and foliage imports.
About the pest risk analysis
We initiated this pest risk analysis to assess the biosecurity risks posed by pests associated with cut flowers and foliage imports to Australia, and determine whether the introduction of revised import conditions manages the biosecurity risks to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia.
Part 2 of the pest risk analysis assessed all arthropod pests other than thrips, mites and aphids that have been intercepted at the Australian border on imported cut flowers and foliage—including beetles, flies, bugs (other than aphids), wasps, bees and ants, and moths and butterflies.
Final report
Summary of the final report
We recommend the same phytosanitary measures as those recommended in Part 1 of the PRA. These phytosanitary measures are suitable to manage the biosecurity risks, to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia.
Should the biosecurity risks change, we recommend regulatory mechanisms be applied.
Pests
There are 583 species of insects from the insect groups Coleoptera (beetles), Diptera (flies), Hemiptera (bugs excluding aphids, which were assessed in Part 1), Hymenoptera (wasps, bees and ants) and Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), known to be associated with imported cut flowers and foliage.
Of the 583 species, 74 species of beetles, 38 species of flies, 140 species of bugs (other than aphids) and 110 species of moths and butterflies are identified as quarantine pests. These species require phytosanitary measures to manage the biosecurity risks they pose for Australia.
Thirteen species of wasps, bees and ants are known quarantine pests for Australia, and they are already regulated at the Australian border.
An additional 6 species of beetles and 10 species of bugs (other than aphids) are of biosecurity concern because they have the potential to transmit pathogens that are quarantine pests for Australia. These species require phytosanitary measures to manage the biosecurity risks they pose for Australia.
An additional 8 species of beetles, 17 species of flies, 3 species of bugs (other than aphids), and 19 species of wasps, bees and ants are identified as being a ‘contaminating pest’, which means they have the potential to be a predator or parasitoid, transmit human and/or animal pathogens, or be a nuisance pest. These species will be regulated at the Australian border if they are found on imported cut flowers and foliage.
Risk management measures
Pre-export
Before cut flowers and foliage are exported to Australia, the exporting country must use one of three arthropod pest management options:
- NPPO-approved systems approach, or
- Pre-export methyl bromide fumigation, or
- NPPO-approved alternative pre-export disinfestation treatment
In addition, the exporting country must ensure there are no live pests in the consignment. This is verified by the exporting country National Plant Protection Organisation’s (NPPO) pre-export visual inspection and remedial action if live pests are found.
On-arrival at Australian border
When consignments arrive at the Australian border, they will be:
- Visually inspected to verify that the biosecurity status of consignments of cut flowers and foliage meet Australia’s import conditions.
- Released if arthropod pests are unregulated (not of biosecurity concern), subject to freedom from other contaminants and pathogens.
- Treated if arthropod pests are identified as regulated (of biosecurity concern), or if the consignment does not meet Australia’s import conditions.
If biosecurity risks change
In circumstances of changing biosecurity risk, we may apply regulatory mechanisms, such as:
- An import permit, or
- Amending and/or suspending a phytosanitary measure, or
- Suspending the import of a flower or foliage type and/or a country pathway.
Download final report
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, June 2021
Final Pest Risk Analysis for Cut Flower and Foliage Imports – Part 2 (PDF 8.3 MB)
Final Pest Risk Analysis for Cut Flower and Foliage Imports – Part 2 (DOCX 4.9 MB)
Appendix D: Arthropod pest interceptions – Part 2 (XLSX 166 KB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Announcement
We announced the commencement of Part 2 of the pest risk analysis on 18 April 2019 (Biosecurity Advice 2019-P05).
The third and final part of the PRA will assess the biosecurity risk posed by key pathogens (viruses, viroid, bacteria, phytoplasma and fungi) associated with global imports of fresh cut flowers and foliage. The PRA will also evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the current phytosanitary measures in reducing the level of biosecurity risk to meet Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP). The review will include an examination of devitalisation requirements on the pathway.
Announcement
We announced the commencement of Part 3 of the PRA for cut flowers and foliage imports on 12 October 2022.
More information about this risk analysis is available in the Announcement Information Paper.
Download
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, October 2022.
Announcement Information Paper – Cut flower PRA Part 3 (PDF 128 KB)
Announcement Information Paper – Cut flower PRA Part 3 (DOCX 48 KB )
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Next steps
We will:
- review the science on pathogens of concern
- assess and analyse the biosecurity risks
- develop a draft report, which will propose risk management measures (if required) to manage the identified biosecurity risks.
We will then release the draft report for a 60-calendar day public consultation period. We plan to release the draft report in mid-2023. Please note that this is an indicative timeline and may be subject to change.
Fresh cut flowers and foliage have been imported into Australia on a commercial basis for around 50 years.
Cut flower and foliage industry in Australia
In 2020–21:
- Australia’s total value of fresh cut flower production was $277.3 million, of which a total value of $7.9 million was exported.
- Australia’s main export markets for fresh cut flowers were Japan, with a value of $2.7 million, and the Netherlands with a value of $1.6 million.
- Australia imported fresh cut flowers worth $95.4 million.
- The main countries which exported fresh cut flowers to Australia were China ($21.2 million), Malaysia ($18.8 million), Kenya ($14.1 million), Ecuador ($12.4 million) and Colombia ($9.5 million).
Source: Hort Innovation – Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook 2019/20
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