6 April 2009
BIOSECURITY AUSTRALIA ADVICE 2009/07
This Biosecurity Australia Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Provisional final import risk analysis report for fresh unshu mandarin fruit from Japan.
The recommended quarantine measures include sourcing fruit from registered orchards within designated export areas, monitoring of export areas, post-harvest chemical treatment and visual inspections. This will be supported by an operational system to maintain and verify the quarantine status of consignments, and pre-clearance by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.
The report takes account of submissions and comments by stakeholders on earlier reports. The report is open for appeal to an independent panel, the Import Risk Analysis Appeals Panel, until 11 May 2009.
Biosecurity Australia Advice 2008/08 of 19 March 2008 announced the formal commencement of a standard, regulated import risk analysis (IRA) to consider a proposal to import fresh unshu mandarin fruit from Japan. The transition of this risk analysis into the new regulated IRA process recognises the work already completed under the previous process. Stakeholder consultation occurred on a technical issues paper issued in 2002 and a draft report issued on 29 July 2008.
The report identifies 17 pests and diseases that require quarantine measures to manage risks to a very low level in order to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection. The identified quarantine pests and diseases are pink citrus rust mite, apple heliodinid, mealybugs (four species), leafroller moths (four species), thrips (four species), Japanese orange fly, and exotic pathotypes of citrus scab, and citrus canker.
This provisional final report recommends that the importation of fresh unshu mandarin fruit (Citrus unshiu Marcow.) to Australia from four designated export areas, surveyed and found free of citrus canker, be permitted, subject to specific quarantine conditions. For citrus canker these consist of orchard inspection, orchard controls (e.g. spraying), movement restrictions on host commodities and post-harvest chemical treatment of fruit.
The recommended quarantine measures for citrus scab are orchard inspection, orchard control and orchard freedom from symptoms. The recommended quarantine measure for pink citrus rust mite, apple heliodinid, mealybugs, leafroller moths and thrips is inspection and, if these pests are detected, remedial action. The recommended quarantine measure for Japanese orange fly is the continuation of the existing surveillance program to verify area freedom status for the designated export areas.
Japan is to immediately notify AQIS of any changes to the current distribution of citrus greening outside of the export areas and the current movement restrictions for its host commodities.
Australian quarantine inspectors will verify that the recommended phytosanitary measures have occurred and pre-clear consignments before export to Australia.
The recommended quarantine measures outlined in the report take account of regional differences within Australia for citrus rust thrips, western flower thrips and melon thrips.
The report and information about the regulated IRA process are available from the Biosecurity Australia website. Printed copies are available, if required.
This IRA is being completed under the regulated process according to the Import Risk Analysis Handbook 2007. Stakeholders may lodge an appeal in writing to the Import Risk Analysis Appeals Panel – a body independent of Biosecurity Australia. The panel has advised that any appeals must be received by 11 May 2009. The appeal period, takes account of the holiday period that falls within the appeal time. The appeal must outline a claim or claims based on the following ground:
- there was a significant deviation from the regulated IRA process that adversely affected the interests of a stakeholder.
Each claim must be supported by a statement of reasons.
The panel has up to 45 days to consider any appeals and report its findings to Australia’s Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine and appellants. If there is no appeal, or once any appeals are resolved, the process is complete and policy recommendations will be submitted to the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine for determination.
Written appeals (by email or post) must be received by 11 May 2009 and be addressed to the Import Risk Analysis Appeals Panel secretariat as follows:
Secretariat
Import Risk Analysis Appeals Panel
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Email: IRAAP
Further detail on the appeals process can be found in the Import Risk Analysis Handbook 2007.
Dr Colin J Grant
Chief Executive