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.

We have completed a final report for the pest risk analysis for bacterial pathogens in the genus Xylella. Xylella import conditions will be implemented in stages. We will provide advance notice ahead of each stage.

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.

Final report

We published the final report on 30 June 2026.

The final report recommends risk management measures for nursery stock and seeds for sowing, based on:

the Xylella status of the source country or region
host status
commodity type
offshore controls in place.

Risk management measures

The final Xylella PRA confirms components of the emergency measures to remain in place. It also recommends a number of enhancements to offshore testing and production pathways to better manage risks.

Specifically, the final PRA confirms that:

Xylella remains a high consequence pest, with the potential to significantly impact Australia’s horticultural and agricultural industries, and the environment
biosecurity measures are still required, to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP)
the shift to genus‑level regulation (implemented in 2025) remains appropriate to maintain Australia’s biosecurity protection while reducing unnecessary trade restrictions.

The PRA recommends:

updates to diagnostic and testing requirements to align with current scientific evidence and national/international guidance
an assurance and verification program to ensure import conditions are consistently applied and effective
refinements to the import conditions to ensure they remain evidence based and technically justified.

Key changes for high-risk Xylella countries/regions include:

mother plant testing replacing mother tissue culture testing prior to establishing tissue culture lines
updated PCR testing protocols, and defined criteria for interpretation of results, in line with current diagnostic guidance
a requirement for laboratory test reports to accompany phytosanitary certificates
improved assurance over import pathways, which will mean offshore laboratories will need to be authorised by Australia in order to conduct testing.

Key changes for low-risk Xylella countries/regions include:

stronger assurance requirements for host plants sourced from low-risk Xylella regions, particularly where sourcing occurs across multiple countries.

The final report also reflects the completed transition to genus‑level regulation, which reduces unnecessary trade restrictions while maintaining appropriate biosecurity protection.

Your feedback on the draft report

We received submissions on the draft report from 11 stakeholders. Where permission has been given, these submissions have been published below. We have made changes to the risk analysis following consideration of stakeholder comments and a subsequent review of literature. These changes include:

strengthening offshore testing requirements, including a shift from testing tissue culture to testing mother plants
confirming genus‑level regulation, reducing the number of regulated plant hosts
updating diagnostic protocols to improve detection and align with current scientific guidance
identifying a forward focus on assurance and verification activities to increase confidence in offshore systems
expanding and clarifying the risk assessment, including pathways such as cut flowers and vector transmission
adding further acknowledgement of environmental impacts, including First Nations peoples’ connection to Country.

Download submissions on the draft report

Available until June 2027.

Published submissions may not meet Australian Government accessibility requirements as they have not been prepared by us. If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.

Download final report

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, June 2026.

If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.

Draft report

We released the draft report on 16 December 2022 (via Biosecurity Advice 2022-P12), for a 75 calendar day public consultation period, which was extended to 3 April 2023.

Available until June 2027.

Download draft report

If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.

*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

The release of the final report is the completion of the risk analysis.

We will implement the updated Xylella import conditions in stages. We will provide advance notice ahead of each stage.

To give stakeholders sufficient notice and time to prepare, changes will not start to come into effect until 20 January 2027.
From 30 June 2026, offshore testing laboratories can apply to be authorised to conduct Xylella testing of host plants exported to Australia.
Revised import conditions will come into effect from 20 January 2027. These will include enhanced testing and certification requirements for tissue culture imports from high-risk countries in line with PRA recommendations.
To minimise disruption to supply chains, during a transition period from 20 January 2027 to 27 April 2028, we will accept testing of EITHER mother tissue culture OR mother plants. However, during this period all testing must comply with the updated testing protocols and certification requirements.
From 28 April 2028, we will only accept testing of mother plants.

Our website provides more information on the updated Xylella import conditions and laboratory authorisation.

Keep informed

Register as a stakeholder

Subscribe to Biosecurity Risk Analysis Plant via our online subscription service to receive Biosecurity Advices and other notifications relating to plant biosecurity policy.

Contact us

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