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Department of Agriculture

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  4. Import risk analyses
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  6. Xylella bacterial pathogens

Sidebar first - Biosecurity

  • Plant risk analyses
    • Plant commodity/country and pest risk analyses
    • How we conduct a plant risk analysis

Xylella bacterial pathogens

Emergency measures are currently in place to manage the risk of the bacterial pathogen Xylella. Further information on these measures is available on the Xylella emergency measures webpage.

Public consultation on the draft report for the pest risk analysis for bacterial pathogens in the genus Xylella has closed.

bra-infographic-finalise.png

Risk analysis

When we do a risk analysis, we:

  • review the science on pests and diseases of concern
  • assess and analyse biosecurity risks
  • develop proposed risk management measures, if required
  • consult the public on the draft report and then review comments
  • publish the final report
  • develop import conditions
  • publish import conditions in our Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).

About the pest risk analysis

Xylella is an invasive bacterial pathogen that causes significant environmental and economic impacts. Many commercial and ornamental plant species can be killed by this bacterial pathogen, including horticulture, agriculture and Australian plant species that are grown overseas (such as Eucalyptus and Acacia species). The number of plants affected by the bacteria around the world is increasing every year. Fortunately, Australia is free of Xylella bacterial pathogens.

Xylella can be carried by insects that feed on the sap of plants. It can also be spread by the movement of infected plants.

Xylella is the number one pest threat to Australian horticultural and agricultural industries. It is also a pest threat to our environment. To reduce the risk of Xylella entering Australia, we implemented emergency measures in November 2015.

Draft report

We released the draft report on 16 December 2022 for a 75 calendar day public consultation period, which was extended to 3 April 2023.

We initiated this pest risk analysis to assess the biosecurity risks of Xylella, and to determine whether the emergency measures manage the biosecurity risks to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia.

The draft report proposes risk management measures, combined with operational systems, and/or a period of post-entry quarantine in Australia prior to release, to ensure biosecurity standards are met.

Risk management measures

The proposed measures are largely consistent with the current emergency measures, with some amendments. These proposed amendments include changing the taxonomic level of plant regulation from the current target at plant family level to genus level. That is, regulating all plants within a genus that has one or more confirmed natural host species of Xylella instead of regulating all plants within a family that has on or more confirmed natural host species of Xylella.

The draft report also proposes amendments to strengthen the regulation of imported tissue culture pathways by requiring a laboratory test report to accompany the phytosanitary certificate. A program of assurance and verification of selected imported nursery stock and tissue cultures, including by conducting molecular testing for Xylella spp., is also proposed.

Download draft report

Draft report for the pest risk analysis for bacterial pathogens in the genus Xylella (PDF 3.78 MB)
Draft report for the pest risk analysis for bacterial pathogens in the genus Xylella (DOCX 4.75 MB)

Appendix C: Xylella vectors and their preferred plant hosts (XLSX 164 KB)
*Appendix D: Xylella plant hosts (XLSX 216 KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

*Note: ‘Appendix D: Xylella plant hosts’ is out of date. Please refer to the Xylella plant hosts list on the Xylella emergency measures webpage.

Announcement

We announced the commencement of this pest risk analysis on 2 August 2018 (via Biosecurity Advice 2018-18).

Next steps

We are considering all comments we received on the draft report. Your feedback is helping to inform our final report.

We will issue a Biosecurity Advice notice prior to the release of the final report.

Keep informed

Register as a stakeholder

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For more information, email imports or phone 1800 900 090 (option 1, option 1).

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Page last updated: 03 February 2025

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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