19 February 2010
Draft Import Risk Analysis Report for Table Grapes from the People’s Republic of China
This Biosecurity Australia Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Draft import risk analysis report for table grapes from the People’s Republic of China.Biosecurity Australia proposes that the importation of table grapes to Australia from China can be permitted subject to a range of quarantine conditions. The draft report identifies 19 pests that require quarantine measures. This draft report is being issued for 60 days consultation. Written comments and submissions are invited by 21 April 2010.
Biosecurity Australia Advice 2008/28, of 18 August 2008, announced the formal commencement of a standard, import risk analysis (IRA) under the regulated process to consider a proposal to import table grapes from the People’s Republic of China.
This Biosecurity Australia Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Draft import risk analysis report for table grapes from the People’s Republic of China. Stakeholders have until 21 April 2010 to provide written comments on the draft IRA report. The 60 day comment period has been extended by two days to allow for the Easter public holidays.
The draft IRA report identifies 17 quarantine pests that require quarantine measures to manage risks to a very low level in order to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP). It also identifies two sanitary pests that require measures.
The identified quarantine pests are kanzawa spider mite, harlequin ladybird, Japanese beetle, Oriental fruit fly, grape whitefly, grapevine phylloxera, mealybugs (three species), thrips (two species), grape cluster black rot, bitter rot, black rot, spike stalk brown spot, brown rot and grapevine leaf rust. The identified sanitary pests are black widow spider and European black widow spider.
Regional differences were identified for three pests: kanzawa spider mite and bitter rot have been identified as quarantine pests for Western Australia; and western flower thrips for Tasmania and the Northern Territory. The proposed quarantine measures take account of these regional differences.
This draft report proposes a combination of risk management measures and operational systems that will reduce the risk associated with the importation of table grapes from China into Australia to achieve Australia’s ALOP, specifically:
- area freedom or cold treatment for Oriental fruit fly
- a systems approach (vineyard control and surveillance, fruit bagging and visual inspection and remedial action) for kanzawa spider mite, harlequin ladybird, Japanese beetle, grape whitefly, mealybugs and thrips
- area freedom or sulphur treatment or pre-shipment fumigation with SO2/CO2 for phylloxera
- area freedom for grape cluster black rot, black rot and spike stalk brown spot
- area freedom or a systems approach for bitter rot, brown rotandgrapevine leaf rust
- pre-shipment fumigation with SO2/CO2 for venomous black widow spiders
- a supporting operational system to maintain and verify the phytosanitary status of consignments. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) will verify that the proposed phytosanitary measures have occurred and AQIS officers will be present under a pre-clearance arrangement to inspect and verify pest freedom prior to export.
The draft report and information about the regulated IRA process are available at www.biosecurityaustralia.gov.au. Printed copies are available, if required.
Comments on the draft IRA report must be submitted by 21 April 2010 to:
Office of the Chief Executive
Biosecurity Australia
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone:+61 2 6272 5094
Facsimile:+61 2 6272 3307
E-mail: plant@biosecurity.gov.au
Confidentiality
Stakeholders are advised that, subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1988, all submissions received in response to Biosecurity Australia Advices will be publicly available and may be listed or referred to in any papers or reports prepared on the subject matter.The Commonwealth of Australia reserves the right to reveal the identity of a respondent unless a request for anonymity accompanies the submission. Where a request for anonymity does not accompany the submission the respondent will be taken to have consented to the disclosure of their identity for the purposes of Information Privacy Principle 11 of the Privacy Act 1988.
The contents of the submission will only be treated as confidential if they are marked ‘confidential’ and can be classified as such in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
Colin Grant
Chief Executive
Contact: Dr Vanessa Findlay
Tel:+61 2 6272 3050
Fax:+61 2 6271 6382