3 July 2012
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Draft report for the review of import conditions for fresh potatoes for processing from New Zealand.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Biosecurity proposes that the importation of fresh potatoes for processing into Australia from New Zealand be permitted subject to quarantine conditions. The draft review of import conditions identifies a number of species of bacteria, fungi, nematodes, arthropods and viruses that require quarantine measures.
This draft review of import conditions is being issued for a 60-day consultation period. Written submissions are invited by 3 September 2012.
This review of import conditions is in response to a request from the Government of New Zealand to permit market access for potatoes for processing into Australia.
In conducting this review, DAFF Biosecurity took into consideration import conditions previously established for the import of fresh potatoes for processing from New Zealand prior to the cessation of trade in 1988, due to an inability by New Zealand at that time to meet the area freedom requirements for a nematode pest. The 2009 policy for “Candidatus Liberibacter psyllaurous” (now renamed “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum”) on host commodities including tomato, capsicum, tamarillo and potatoes, was also considered in this review.
Potato cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis) is present in Australia but has a limited distribution and is managed accordingly. Australian domestic movement regulations that have been developed to prevent the spread of potato cyst nematode within Australia have also been considered in this review.
Stakeholders have until 3 September 2012 to provide written comments on the draft review of import conditions.
The proposed import conditions have been developed to address a number of species of bacteria, fungi, nematodes, arthropods and viruses that have been identified as quarantine pests and require quarantine measures to manage these risks to a very low level in order to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP).
A number of pests were identified as being of regional concern only to Tasmania and/or Western Australia. The proposed quarantine measures take account of these regional differences.
The draft report proposes a combination of risk management measures and operational systems that will reduce the biosecurity risk associated with the importation of fresh potatoes for processing from New Zealand into Australia to achieve Australia’s ALOP, including:
- for the bacterium “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” (causing zebra chip disease)
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- processing in quarantine approved premises (QAP), which must have a waste management program in place to collect, store, transport, treat and dispose of all waste in a quarantine approved manner
- for potato cyst nematode (PCN) and potato black wart
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- an operational system for the maintenance and verification of the phytosanitary status of potatoes tubers in compliance with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) document MAFBNZ Export Compliance Programme for the Provision of Additional Declarations (Potato Cyst Nematode and Potato Wart), including:
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- production site freedom for PCN
- area freedom for potato black wart
- registration of growers, packing houses and storage facilities
- packaging and labelling requirements
- specific conditions for storage and transport
- pre-export phytosanitary inspection and certification by MPI or an Independent Verification Agency authorised by MPI.
- on-arrival phytosanitary inspection and clearance for processing in QAP by DAFF Biosecurity
Printed copies of the draft review of import conditions are available are available, if required.
Comments on the draft review of import conditions must be submitted by 3 September 2012 to:
Biosecurity – Plant
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA
Telephone +61 2 6272 3933
Facsimile +61 2 6272 3307
Email Plant Biosecurity
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 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
First Assistant Secretary
Plant Division
Contact: Darryl Barbour
Telephone: +61 2 6272 3933
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 4333
Email: Plant Biosecurity