12 November 2008
Biosecurity Australia Advice 2008/34
This Biosecurity Australia Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Final Import Risk Analysis Report for the Importation of Cavendish Bananas from the Philippines. Stakeholders have until 12 December 2008 (i.e. 30 days) to lodge an appeal in response to the Final IRA Report. Stakeholders are informed that the report of the Eminent Scientists Group has also been published on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.
Biosecurity Australia has completed the Final Import Risk Analysis (IRA) Report for the Importation of Cavendish Bananas from the Philippines into Australia.
The final IRA report includes recommendations on risk management measures. It follows consideration of stakeholder submissions and comments on a draft report that was issued on 1 March 2007. This consideration has also included a review by the independent Eminent Scientists Group (ESG) to ensure that all stakeholder comments have been taken properly into account. The ESG’s report to Australia’s Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine on its review concluded that all stakeholder comments were properly considered in preparing the final IRA report. The ESG report has been published on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.
The final IRA report recommends bananas could enter Australia if the Philippines meets strict risk management measures for seven groups of pests of quarantine concern, including moko, black Sigatoka and freckle.
The recommended quarantine measures, contained in the final IRA report, include:
- exports only from areas that demonstrate low pest prevalence
- registration of export blocks
- inspections to detect the presence of any diseases
- ongoing inspections of blocks and fruit, including by AQIS inspectors
- disinfection and fungicide spraying
- mandatory pre-clearance arrangements with the presence and involvement of AQIS inspectors in the Philippines in applying quarantine conditions in the field, including in packing houses
- auditing and verification by AQIS of systems and processes used by the Philippines to certify any exports
- detailed data and documentation to be provided by the Philippines for consideration by Australia prior to any exports to verify and validate quarantine measures underpinned by laboratory and field experiments and commercial trials.
Stakeholders can lodge an appeal in response to the final IRA report. Stakeholders have until 12 December 2008 (i.e. 30 days) to lodge an appeal in writing with the Import Risk Analysis Appeals Panel – a body independent of Biosecurity Australia – on one or both of the following grounds outlined in the Import Risk Analysis Handbook (2003):
- there was a significant deviation from the process that adversely affected the interests of a stakeholder; and/or
- a significant body of scientific information relevant to the outcome of the IRA was not considered.
In lodging appeals, stakeholders must give reasons for their appeal.
The Appeals Panel normally has up to 45 days to consider its findings and report to Australia’s Director of Quarantine. If there is no appeal, or once any appeals are resolved, the process is complete and the recommended policy will be submitted to the Director of Quarantine for determination.
The Final Import Risk Analysis Report for the Importation of Cavendish Bananas from the Philippines is available from the Biosecurity Australia website.
A printed copy of the document can be requested from Biosecurity Australia as follows:
Plant Biosecurity
Biosecurity Australia
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Telephone: (02) 6272 5094
Facsimile: (02) 6272 3307
Email:
Plant Biosecurity
Appeals should be submitted to:
IRAAP Secretariat
Corporate Policy Division
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Facsimile: (02) 6272 4506
Email:
IRAAP
[signed]
Dr Colin J Grant
Chief Executive