Biosecurity Fact Sheet: Dragon fruit from Vietnam

• The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources recently published import conditions for dragon fruit from Vietnam following a rigorous risk analysis process.
• The import conditions are available on BICON, the Biosecurity Import Conditions database.
• The department published a final report for the review of biosecurity import requirements for fresh dragon fruit from Vietnam on 12 January 2017.
• Preliminary work on a risk analysis for fresh dragon fruit from Indonesia is now underway.

Australia’s agricultural sector has a strong trade focus and relies on biosecurity policies to safeguard the nation’s favourable human, animal and plant health status to protect both our domestic production and to maintain competitiveness and access to overseas markets.

As a World Trade Organization member, Australia is required to consider import requests from other countries to meet its international obligations by assessing proposals and developing the least trade restrictive and scientifically justified import conditions where required.

The department applies rigorous science to assess market access applications from our trading partners. The same scientific principles are used by our trading partners when assessing Australian commodities. 

Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP) is expressed as providing a high level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection aimed at reducing risk to a very low level, but not to zero.

The department reviewed the biosecurity import requirements for fresh dragon fruit from Vietnam in response to a market access request for fresh dragon fruit from Vietnam’s Plant Protection Department.

Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston announced agreement on trade conditions for fresh dragon fruit from Vietnam to Australia and cherries from Australia to Vietnam on 25 August 2017. This announcement reflects a two-way trading relationship between the two countries. Vietnam is an important market for a number of Australia’s agricultural commodities, with agricultural exports to Vietnam worth $2.8 billion in 2016-17, including a range of horticultural products.

The department has now published the import conditions for fresh dragon fruit from Vietnam on BICON, the biosecurity import conditions database. Publication of import conditions follows a rigorous scientific process to identify and assess the risk of introduction, establishment and spread of pests and diseases associated with dragon fruit production. The findings of the risk analysis were published on 12 January 2017 in the form of a final review of import requirement for fresh dragon fruit from Vietnam. The stakeholder submissions received on the draft report (published on 13 September 2016) were considered in the preparation of the final report.

The final report identified seven pests of quarantine concern which require risk management measures. The department negotiated and reached agreement with the Vietnamese government on the risk management measures for imports of fresh dragon fruit, including vapour heat treatment at a facility approved by Australia and Vietnam’s Plant Protection Department.

The publication of import conditions for fresh dragon fruit from Vietnam operationalises the policy developed as part of the review of biosecurity import requirements. The import conditions put into place the recommended measures, combined with operational systems, and include:

• area freedom or vapour heat treatment for fruit flies; and
• consignment freedom verified by visual inspection and, if detected, remedial action for mealybugs.

Publication of import conditions is not a decision to commence trade for this commodity. Any trade resulting from this agreement remains a commercial decision. If an exporter in Vietnam and an importer in Australia wish to import dragon fruit, then the importer is required to apply for a permit that will specify the conditions that must be followed for importation.

The publication of import conditions is not considered the end of the process for biosecurity risk management. Changes to import policy and conditions can occur and normally result from a change in pest status, or as part of review processes (including after the first year of trade). If new scientific information becomes available, it can be provided to the department for consideration at any time, including after trade has commenced. The department will consider the information provided and can change or suspend import requirements based on this new scientific information or interceptions of pests with consignments of the dragon fruit.

Further information can be found on the department’s website.

Indonesia has advised Australia that its highest priority horticultural market access request is for fresh dragon fruit. The department is currently considering this market access request.  Australia and Indonesia have a strong two-way trading relationship worth over $11 billion with agriculture representing over one-third of this value.

Process for a risk analysis

The objective of undertaking a risk analysis is to ensure that any fresh products imported into Australia are free from unwanted pests and diseases. The department initially identifies pests and diseases associated with fruit or vegetable production and export in the source country that are not present in Australia. The assessment includes analysis of the potential that pests or diseases are brought in on the fresh product and recommends risk management measures if required. If there are no available risk management measures for a particular biosecurity risk to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection, trade is not permitted until suitable measures are identified.

The department also seeks to verify commercial production, washing, packing, and export practices in the source country before determining the phytosanitary measures to be applied to mitigate any potential risks that do not achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection.

Stakeholders are invited to register their interest so they can receive updates and contribute to the development of the report. Registration is via the department’s website. 

The department can be contacted at any point regarding this information via the contact details below.

Phone: +61 2 6272 5094
Email: Plant Stakeholders