10 December 2010
BIOSECURITY AUSTRALIA ADVICE 2010/39 - REVISED CONDITIONS FOR THE IMPORTATION OF FRESH MANGO FRUIT FROM INDIA
This Biosecurity Australia Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Draft revised conditions for importing fresh mango fruit from India.
The draft report proposes alternative quarantine measures to irradiation that will reduce the risk associated with the importation of fresh mango fruit from India to meet Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP).
This draft report is being issued for 30 days consultation. Comments and submissions are invited by 14 January 2011, which includes an extension to allow for public holidays.
Biosecurity Australia Advice 2008/27, of 14 August 2008, notified stakeholders of the quarantine policy determination for fresh mango fruit from India, specifying the quarantine measures as pre export irradiation treatment supported by an operational system to maintain and verify quarantine status.
This Biosecurity Australia Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Draft revised conditions for importing fresh mango fruit from India. The review of import conditions was in response to a request from the Government of India to establish alternative measures to irradiation for exporting fresh mango fruit to Australia. Stakeholders have until 14 January 2011 to provide written comments on the draft report. The 30 day comment period has been extended to allow for the Christmas and New Year public holidays.
The draft report recommends that the importation of fresh mango fruit from all commercial production areas of India be permitted, subject to a range of quarantine conditions including verification of the pest status in the areas nominated by India to export mango fruit to Australia.
At present, only the pest status of the production areas in the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) have been verified. Therefore, only mango fruit from the state of UP will be eligible to be exported to Australia under these conditions. Additional Indian states may be approved, subject to the completion of successful pest verification visits.
The draft report proposes alternative quarantine measures to irradiation, which are a combination of risk management measures and an operational system designed to reduce the risks associated with the importation of fresh mango fruit from India to meet Australia’s ALOP, specifically:
- pre-export vapour heat treatment (VHT) or hot water dipping treatment (HWDT) for managing the risk of fruit fly species including Bactrocera caryeae, B. correcta, B. cucurbitae, B. dorsalis, B. invadens, B. tau and B. zonata;
- designated pest free places of production or production sites for managing the risks of mango pulp weevil, Sternochetus frigidus (MPW), mango seed weevil, S. mangiferae (MSW) and red banded mango caterpillar, Deanolis sublimbalis (RBMC);
- inspection and remedial action for other identified quarantine pests; and
- supporting operational systems to maintain and verify phytosanitary status.
Following the completion of the comment period, Biosecurity Australia will consider all comments and publish a final report.
Comments on the draft report should be submitted by 14 January 2011 to:
Office of the Chief Executive
Biosecurity Australia
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Telephone: +61 2 6272 3933
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 3307
E-mail: plant@aff.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.
Dr Colin J Grant
Chief Executive
Contact: Dr Vanessa Findlay
Telephone: +61 2 6272 3933
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 3307
Email: plant@aff.gov.au