25 August 2011
This Biosecurity Australia Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of Final non-regulated risk analysis report for table grapes from the Republic of Korea.
The final report recommends a combination of risk management measures and operational systems to mitigate the risk associated with the importation of table grapes from Korea to meet Australia’s appropriate level of protection.
Australia has existing quarantine policy that allows the importation of table grapes from Chile, China, New Zealand and United States of America, subject to specific quarantine conditions. Following a request for market access from the Republic of Korea’s National Plant Quarantine Service, Australia initiated a non-regulated analysis for the importation of table grapes from the Republic of Korea.
The non-regulated analysis commenced on 12 November 2010 (Biosecurity Australia Advice (BAA) 2010/34). A draft report was released for a 60 day stakeholder consultation period on 13 April 2011 (BAA 2011/05). Following stakeholder consultation, all comments received were carefully considered in the finalisation of the policy.
Pests identified in this risk analysis as requiring quarantine measures have previously been assessed in the policy for the importation of table grapes from China. These pests are spotted wing drosophila, Kanzawa spider mite, harlequin ladybird, scarab beetles (two species), grapevine phylloxera, mealybugs (two species), leafroller moths (two species), apple heliodinid, thrips, grape cluster black rot and grapevine leaf rust.
Table grapes are a host for spotted wing drosophila (SWD) (Drosophila suzukii) and this pest is native to Asia. Australia formally announced emergency measures for host commodities of SWD (strawberry, cherry, stone fruit and table grape) on 7 April 2010.
A draft pest risk analysis report for SWD was released on 21 October 2010 for a 60-day stakeholder consultation (BAA 2010/28). This draft report assessed the risks for all known hosts of SWD from all relevant exporting countries. Eight stakeholder submissions were received and are currently being considered. The final pest risk analysis (PRA) report is expected to be released in late 2011. The measures established for the importation of table grapes from Korea are consistent with the emergency requirements currently in place and will be reviewed in light of the measures established in the final PRA for D. suzukii.
Quarantine measures recommended for table grapes from the Republic of Korea build on Australia’s existing policy for the importation of table grapes from Chile, China, New Zealand and USA. The final report recommends the following measures:
- area freedom or a systems approach (in-field measures including pest surveys and fruit bagging, and post-harvest measures including inspection, grading, sanitation and trapping in the packing house) or fruit treatment for spotted wing drosophila
- a systems approach (vineyard control and surveillance, fruit bagging and visual inspection and remedial action) for Kanzawa spider mite, mealybugs, tortricid moths, apple heliodinid and thrips
- a systems approach (vineyard and packing management, and visual inspection and remedial action) for harlequin ladybird and scarab beetles
- area freedom or sulphur pad treatment for grapevine phylloxera
- area freedom for grape cluster black rot
- area freedom or a systems approach (vineyard control and surveillance, fruit bagging and visual inspection and remedial action) for grapevine leaf rust
- a supporting operational system to maintain and verify the phytosanitary status of consignments.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) officers will be present in Korea under an off-shore verification arrangement to inspect and verify all consignments prior to export. The off-shore verification arrangement is to be used at least for initial trade in the first year. Subsequently, subject to a review of the trade and agreement by DAFF and NPQS on a region by region basis, pre-clearance of lots in Korea may not be mandatory in the future and in this case AQIS will conduct the quarantine inspection on arrival in Australia.
Dr Colin J Grant
Chief Executive